Rubusoside: a natural and functional sweetener-an integrated review of phytochemistry, bioactivities, and solubilization.

Rubusoside (RUB), a natural diterpenoid glycoside primarily isolated from the leaves of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Rosaceae), has an intense sweet taste and negligible caloric value, making it a promising sweetener. Additionally, RUB could exhibit a variety of biological activities, including antidiabetic, lipid-regulating, antioxidant, anticariogenic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects. Moreover, RUB functioned as a solubilizer to enhance the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble pharmaceuticals, such as paclitaxel, camptothecin and curcumin. In conclusion, its sweetness, biological activities, and solubilisation of RUB make it a promising natural product for food and pharmaceutical applications. However, there is currently no systematic, comprehensive review focusing on RUB, and existing related summaries remain fragmented. This review uniquely summarised the research progress of RUB, covering its phytochemistry, bioactivities, and solubilisation properties, aiming to support further research and development of this natural sweetener.