2.3. Hydrolysis of stevioside 1 (Hyd. ST)
Stevioside (1, 5 g, 6.21 mmol) was added to 50 ml of 100 mmol NaOH (4 g dissolved in 50 ml MeOH at room temperature) and the mixture was heated at 60 C. The mixture was refluxed for 7 h under continuous stirring. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and then neutralised with 1 N HCl.