Dietary fibre and phenolic-rich extracts from Musa paradisiaca inflorescence ameliorates type 2 diabetes and associated cardiovascular risks

In Vitro α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Green Banana Powder Extracts

This study investigated the proximate composition and inhibitory potential of hot water and ethanolic extracts of the pulp, peel and whole fruit of green banana (Musa sapientum) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Bioactive compounds were identified using GC-MS analysis. In addition, the cytotoxic effect on human gingival fibroblast (hGF) was evaluated using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. The results showed that the peel of green banana had the highest amount of ash (10.05%), fat (2.83%), protein (3.64%) and total dietary fibre (36.62%). The carbohydrate content of the whole fruit (81.79%) and pulp (81.50%) was higher than that of the peel (71.90%). The moisture content of the pulp (13.08%) was higher than that of the peel (11.58%) and whole fruit (11.30%). The ethanolic green banana peel extract showed a good inhibitory effect of α-amylase and α-glucosidase with the concentration necessary for 50% inhibition (IC50) of 0.512 and 0.100 mg·mL-1, respectively. The α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of the ethanolic green banana peel extract and the hot water green banana peel extract was not significantly different from that of acarbose (IC50 0.108 mg·mL-1). GC-MS analysis of the ethanolic green banana peel extract revealed fatty acids and fatty acid ester (9-octadecenamide (Z), octadecanamide and other compounds). The ethanolic peel extract exhibits a significant noncytotoxicity effect on hGF cells at concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 1.0 mg·mL-1.

Sucrose-derived porous carbon catalyzed lignin depolymerization to obtain a product with application in type 2 diabetes mellitus

As the most important phenolic biopolymer in nature, lignin shows promising application potentialities in various bioactivities in vivo and in vitro, mainly including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic control. In this work, several carbon-based solid acids were synthesized to catalyze the fragmentation of organosolv lignin (OL). The generated lignin fragments, with controllable molecular weight and functional groups, were further evaluated for their application in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The results suggested that the urea-doped catalyst (SUPC) showed a more excellent catalytic performance in producing diethyl ether insoluble lignin (DEIL) and diethyl ether soluble lignin (DESL). In addition, the lignin fragments have a good therapeutic effect on the cell model of T2DM. Compared with the insulin resistance model, DEIL obtained by catalytic depolymerization of OL with SUPC could improve the glucose consumption of insulin-resistant cells. Moreover, low-concentration samples (50 μg/mL) can promote glucose consumption (19.7 mM) more than the traditional drug rosiglitazone (17.5 mM). This work demonstrates the prospect of depolymerized lignin for the prevention and treatment of T2DM and provides a new application field for lignin degradation products.

Fruit waste: a current perspective for the sustainable production of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and bioactive resources

Fruits are crucial components of a balanced diet and a good source of natural antioxidants, that have proven efficacy in various chronic illnesses. Various kinds of waste generated from fruit industries are considered a global concern. By utilizing this fruit waste, the international goal of "zero waste" can be achieved by sustainable utilization of these waste materials as a rich source of secondary metabolites. Moreover, to overcome this waste burden, research have focused on recovering the bioactive compounds from fruit industries and obtaining a new strategy to combat certain chronic diseases. The separation of high-value substances from fruit waste, including phytochemicals, dietary fibers, and polysaccharides which can then be used as functional ingredients for long-term health benefits. Several novel extraction technologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) could provide an alternative approach for successful extraction of the valuable bioactives from the fruit waste for their utilization as nutraceuticals, therapeutics, and value-added products. Most of these waste-derived secondary metabolites comprise polyphenols, which have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, insulin resistance-treating, cardiovascular disease-maintaining, probiotics-enhancing, or even anti-microbial and anti-viral capabilities. This review summarizes the current knowledge of fruit waste by-products in pharmacological, biological, and probiotic applications and highlights several methods for identifying efficacious bioactive compounds from fruit wastes.

The Valorization of Banana By-Products: Nutritional Composition, Bioactivities, Applications, and Future Development

Bananas are among the world’s main economic crops and one of the world’s most-selling fresh fruits. However, a great deal of waste and by-products is produced during banana harvesting and consumption, including stems, leaves, inflorescences, and peels. Some of them have the potential to be used to develop new foods. Furthermore, studies have found that banana by-products contain many bioactive substances that have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and other functions. At present, research on banana by-products has mainly focused on various utilizations of banana stems and leaves, as well as the extraction of active ingredients from banana peels and inflorescences to develop high-value functional products. Based on the current research on the utilization of banana by-products, this paper summarized the composition information, functions, and comprehensive utilization of banana by-products. Moreover, the problems and future development in the utilization of by-products are reviewed. This review is of great value in expanding the potential applications of banana stems, leaves, inflorescences, and peels, which will not only help to reduce waste of agricultural by-product resources and ecological pollution but will also be useful for the development of essential products as alternative sources of healthy food in the future.

Qualitative and Quantitative Correlation of Microstructural Properties and In Vitro Glucose Adsorption and Diffusion Behaviors of Pea Insoluble Dietary Fiber Induced by Ultrafine Grinding

Ultrafine grinding is an important pretreatment to achieve the physical modification of dietary fiber. In this study, ultrafine grinding treatments were performed for different times to give pea insoluble dietary fiber (PIDF) samples with varied particle sizes (D50). The correlations and quantitative relationships between the microstructures of multi-scales PIDF and its in vitro glucose adsorption and diffusion behaviors were comprehensively evaluated. The results indicated that the specific surface area (SSA), pore volume (PV) and oxygen-to-carbon surface ratio (O/C) of PIDF were significantly increased by ultrafine grinding at the cellular scale, while D50 and cellulose crystallinity (CrI) were significantly decreased. These changes significantly improved the glucose adsorption capacity (GAC) of PIDF. The order of importance of microstructural changes on GAC was O/C > PV > SSA > CrI > D50. GAC showed positive exponential relationships with SSA, PV, and O/C and showed a negative linear relationship with CrI. The ability to retard glucose diffusion increased significantly with decreased fiber particle size because of improved adsorption and interception of glucose and the dense physical barrier effect of PIDF. The quantitative equation of maximum glucose dialysis retardation index was GDRImax = −1.65 ln(D50) + 16.82 ln(GAC) − 68.22 (R2 = 0.99). The results could provide theoretical support for quantitative and targeted intervention of dietary fiber structure for blood glucose control.

Synergistic Action of Multiple Enzymes Resulting in Efficient Hydrolysis of Banana Bracts and Products with Improved Antioxidant Properties

This study investigated the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of banana bracts from different varieties (Maçã, Nanica and Prata) using pectinase, protease and cellulase (singly or in combinations) on their antioxidant properties. The results showed that the antioxidant properties and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of extracts increased after the enzymatic treatment with a clear synergistic effect between the different enzymes. The ternary mixture of pectinase, protease and cellulase resulted in increases of 458% and 678% in TPC content for extracts obtained from Maçã and Nanica varieties and up to 65% in antioxidant properties of those produced from Prata variety compared to the non-hydrolyzed samples. In general, the extracts obtained from the Prata variety showed the highest levels of TPC, as well as antioxidant activity, as follows: 14.70 mg GAE g−1 for TPC, 82.57 µmol TE g−1 for ABTS, 22.26 µmol TE g−1 for DPPH and 47.09 µmol TE g−1 for FRAP. Phenolic compounds identified by HPLC in extracts included ρ-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic and vanillic acids and the flavonoid rutin. This study reported for the first time the enzymatic treatment applied to banana bracts as a promising method to release antioxidant compounds, offering a new opportunity to explore these residues as a source of molecules with high added value through an environmentally friendly and safe process.

Pharmacologically active chemical composite of Musa balbisiana ameliorates oxidative stress, mitochondrial cellular respiration, and thereby metabolic dysfunction

The ripe fruit pulp of different Musa species is known for its excellent source of nutrient contents. Musa balbisiana (MB) is one such variety of Musa species, mainly found in the southern part of Asia, especially in the North-eastern part of India, remains unexplored despite its continuous use by the local traditional healers. The present study focuses on identifying and quantifying the active chemicals present in the ripe fruit pulp of Musa balbisiana (RFPMB) to understand its combined efficacy and nutritional benefit to control human metabolic complications specially related to diabetes and cardiovascular disorder. Characterization and confirmation through targeted LC-MS and HPLC-PDA based assays followed by quantitative analysis led us to identify the major bioactive compounds in RFPMB as shikimic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, chlorogenic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, and two essential fatty acids; linolenic acid and linoleic acid. The ripe fruit pulp is further analyzed to understand the nutritional and mineral content and found a substantial presence of calcium and potassium (15.74 ± 0.43 and 395.20 ± 9.5 mg/100 g of raw pulp, respectively) compared to other reported varieties. The active portion of RFPMB reduces the production of ROS, the expression of inflammatory marker genes TNF-α and TGF-β, and accelerates the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) by enhancing the basal respiration, maximal respiration, and ATP production capacity of the targeted cells. The present study concluded that, a particular phytopharmaceutical composition of RFPMB with 11-biomarker compounds might be an efficacious formulation for developing a value-added nutraceutical product in managing metabolic complications and its related oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study has provided the prior information regarding the potential nutraceutical and phytochemical advantages of Musa balbisiana (MB) fruit pulp over other reported banana varieties. The HPLC-based quantification will give a clear understanding of the food values in comparison of bioactive compounds present in the active fraction of RFPMB, which can be an effective phytopharmaceutical in combating metabolic disorders and oxidative stress. Overall this study will help to commercialize a value-added product from this variety of banana with proper scientific validation.

Efficiency Assessment of Bacterial Cellulose on Lowering Lipid Levels In Vitro and Improving Lipid Metabolism In Vivo

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is well known as a high-performance dietary fiber. This study investigates the adsorption capacity of BC for cholesterol, sodium cholate, unsaturated oil, and heavy metal ions in vitro. Further, a hyperlipidemia mouse model was constructed to investigate the effects of BC on lipid metabolism, antioxidant levels, and intestinal microflora. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of BC for cholesterol, sodium cholate, Pb²⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ were 11.910, 16.149, 238.337, 1.525 and 1.809 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, BC reduced the blood lipid levels, regulated the peroxide levels, and ameliorated the liver injury in hyperlipidemia mice. Analysis of the intestinal flora revealed that BC improved the bacterial community of intestinal microflora in hyperlipidemia mice. It was found that the abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased, while the abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria was decreased at the phylum level. In addition, increased abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae were obtained at the genus level. These changes were supposed to be beneficial to the activities of intestinal microflora. To conclude, the findings prove the role of BC in improving lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemia mice and provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of BC in functional food.

New valorization approach of Algerian dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by ultrasound pectin extraction: Physicochemical, techno-functional, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties

To exploit the great fortune of date fruits, the current study aimed to valorize an Algerian common variety by extracting pectins. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied as process optimization tool to achieve the highest yield using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as compared to conventional acid extraction (CAE). The experimental yield value (6.7%) was well matched with the predicted one (6.6%) at the optimum conditions (60 °C, 90 min, pH 1.5), confirming the validity of the model. The evaluation of the monomeric composition showed higher content of galacturonic acid and lower of neutral sugars in UAE pectin, as compared to CAE pectin. Conventional treatments decreased the molecular weight (Mw) of the extracted pectins (539 kDa) in a higher extent than ultrasound treatment (800 kDa). Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectral analysis showed that both samples were low-methoxyl pectins. CAE gave rise to pectins with slightly upper technological samples in terms of water and oil holding capacity (5.2 and 3.8 g/g, respectively), and emulsifying activity (38.5 m²/g). Moreover, date pectins obtained by UAE presented enhanced antioxidant activity (24.3 and 61.0 mg/g DW for DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively), and in vitro antidiabetic properties, showing higher glucose adsorption capacity (4 mmol g^-1 at 200 min), as well as α-amylase inhibition (73.7%) and potential capacity to decrease glucose diffusion (1.4 mmol mM g^-1 at 150 min), which could improve the ability to retard starch digestion (0.1 mmol mM g-1 at 150 min), providing potential health-promoting properties.

Processing Agroindustry By-Products for Obtaining Value-Added Products and Reducing Environmental Impact

Over four billion tons of foods are produced annually on the planet, and about a third is wasted. A minimal part of this waste is incinerated or sent to landfills for treatment, avoiding contamination and diseases; the rest is disposed of elsewhere. The current review was aimed at broadening the panorama on the potential of agroindustrial by-products in applications such as biofuels, biomaterials, biocompounds, pharmaceuticals, and food ingredients. It also exposes the main chemical, physical, and biochemical treatments for converting by-products into raw materials with added value through low environmental impact processes. The value of agroindustrial waste is limited due to the scarce information available. There is a need for further research in unexplored areas to find ways of adding value to these by-products and minimizing their contamination. Instead of throwing away or burning by-products, they can be transformed into useful materials such as polymers, fuels, antioxidants, phenols, and lipids, which will effectively reduce food waste and environmental impact.

Downregulation of TLR4/MyD88/p38MAPK and JAK/STAT pathway in RAW 264.7 cells by Alpinia galanga reveals its beneficial effects in inflammation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alpinia galanga, commonly known as greater galangal or raasna, is widely used in Ayurveda against various inflammatory disorders. It is also known as Kulinjan, Aratha, Rasna or Sugandhamula. Some of the Ayurvedic preparations using the rhizome of Alpinia galanga are Rasnadi kashayam, Rasna panchakam, Rasnapthakam, and Rasnarendadi. The aromatic rhizome is the source of the drug greater galangal and it is also used as a spice in South and South East Asia. However, the molecular mechanism of action of A galanga against inflammation remains poorly understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Alpinia galanga rhizome.

STUDY DESIGN/METHOD

The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Alpinia galanga (AGE) was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunofluorescence in LPS stimulated murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). HPLC analysis was done to elucidate the rich polyphenolic nature of AGE.

RESULTS

The study showed that pre-treatment with AGE downregulated the release of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, NO, and ROS) and stimulated the release of anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The vital enzymes of inflammation (iNOS, COX-2, and MMP-9) were also downregulated by pre-treatment with AGE. AGE targeted the upstream elements of the inflammatory cascade by blocking LPS induced activation of TLR4 and JAK/STAT pathway. The phosphorylation of downstream kinases was significantly affected. The inhibition of nuclear translocation of NFκB further confirmed the specific inhibition of the TLR4 pathway. Particularly AGE inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK, p38, IκBα, and STAT. HPLC analysis of the AGE showed the polyphenol-rich nature of the extract.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study provide firm evidence that AGE exerts its anti-inflammatory effect via modulation of TLR4 and JAK/STAT pathway.

A pharmacological perspective of banana: implications relating to therapeutic benefits and molecular docking

Banana is one of the most nutritious fruits, as it is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, and minerals. Banana has been used in traditional medicines for managing coughs and colds, ulcers, burns, and diarrhea. Banana contains various bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, with reported therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. The present review focuses on a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and biological properties and phytochemicals of different species of banana and its different parts. Although detailed characterization of the compounds that are present in many parts of the plant has been carried out, chemical profiling of the seed, pseudostem, and leaves of banana is lacking and requires further exploration. Moreover, the functions of the reported compounds were elucidated using computational tools, supporting their potential role in managing life-threatening diseases and physiological complications.

Physicochemical characteristics of green banana flour and its use in the development of konjac-green banana noodles

Asian noodles typically have high glycemic index, and an unbalanced diet heavily laden with carbohydrates has been linked to weight gain and obesity. Shirataki noodles from Japan is made from konjac glucomannan (KGM) and water and is widely known for its multiple health benefits and ability to promote satiety. However, it imparts negligible nutritional value due to its low energy content. In this study, the feasibility of making low calorie, gluten-free Shirataki noodles with improved nutritional value was shown by adding green banana flour (GBF), an underutilized subproduct of low commercial value and significance in the food industry. The optimal KGM-GBF noodles (with 6% w/w KGM, 35% w/w GBF) had 27% lower total energy content, 13% lower carbohydrate content, 5.4% higher fiber content, 2% higher ash content, and 80% hardness (as measured by texture profile analysis) when compared to commercial yellow alkaline wheat noodles. Multiple regression analysis showed that KGM level was a more influential factor than GBF level on the hardness of cooked KGM-GBF noodles (P < 0.01). The compatibility of GBF with KGM in noodle making lay in GBF's high gelatinizing and pasting temperatures, which allowed optimal KGM hydration during dough formation to develop the primary network structure in the noodles. Through this study, the potential of GBF as a functional food ingredient in product processing and nutrition enhancement was demonstrated. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The addition of green banana flour can improve the nutritional value and sensorial properties of konjac (Shirataki) noodles. This offers a gluten-free and low glycemic index alternative to wheat and starch noodles currently available commercially. A novel method of noodle-making to create KGM noodles, without the use of high alkalinity, was developed.

A comparative study to elucidate the biological activities of crude extracts from rice bran and wheat bran in cell line models

The present study investigated the nutritional composition of bran from rice (RB) and wheat (WB) and compared the natural virtues of crude extracts based on phenolic composition, antidiabetic and anticancer activities. The profiling of phenolic-rich ethyl acetate extracts (RBE and WBE) confirms that RBE is rich in catechol (0.122 mg/g dw), p-coumaric acid (0.159 mg/g dw), kaempferol (0.374 mg/g dw) and apigenin (0.399 mg/g dw); and WBE is affluent with catechol (0.144 mg/g dw), ferulic acid (0.160 mg/g dw), caffeic acid (0.083 mg/g dw) and ellagic acid (0.074 mg/g dw). RBE exhibited better antioxidant activity, inhibited the activity of α-amylase (IC50-353.41 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50-314.22 µg/mL), hindered glycation process (IC50-451.11 µg/mL), and enhanced glucose uptake in L6 muscle cells (20.4%) indicating its potential in diabetic management. RBE was toxic to HT29 colon cancer cells and decreased cell membrane integrity. RBE and WBE arrested cell-cycle transition in HT29 cells from G0 to G1 and G2 to M phase respectively and induced apoptosis (27.15% and 5.9%, respectively for RBE and WBE) suggesting anticancer activities of the extract. The study indicates that bran from rice and wheat are a potential source of dietary fibre and phytochemicals with antidiabetic and anticancer properties for developing value-added products with nutraceutical benefits.

Ultrasound-assisted extracted dietary fibre from culinary banana bract as matrices for anthocyanin: its preparation, characterization and storage stability

Dietary fibre (DF) functionalized with polyphenols is a functional ingredients as it provides the health benefits associated with consumption of both DF and polyphenols. The present study endeavoured to prepare DF-anthocyanin formulation with different ratio of pigment-matrix where DF and anthocyanin were extracted from culinary banana bracts. The formulated powders were studied for its antioxidant, structural properties and fluorescent properties. DF-anthocyanin formulation exhibited enhancement in anthocyanin content with increase in antioxidant content and it was highest for DF-A3 with better color values (L*, a*, C*) compared to other formulations. The structure of the formulation was mainly attributed to the structure of DF and anthocyanin as evidenced by FT-IR. Moreover, changes in the degree of crystallinity were found after addition of anthocyanin in fibre matrix. The morphology study by SEM confirmed the entrapment of particles (1.97-3.88 µm) on the network structure and surface of DF. Additionally, Akin fluorescence emission spectra of DF-A3 with anthocyanin extract further confirmed the formation of DF-anthocyanin complex. Storage stability study showed DF-A3 with lowest degradation rate (k = 0.0002 day^-1) and half-life period of 87 days.

Antidiabetic activity of Musa x paradisiaca extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and chemical characterization by HPLC-DAD-MS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Musa x paradisiaca L. inflorescence, known as banana blossom or banana heart, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity of aqueous extracts and fractions prepared from the bracts and flowers of Musa x paradisiaca in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and to chemically characterize the extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Standard aqueous extracts of the flowers, bracts, and their fractions were prepared and their chemical composition was determined tentatively by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode-array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). Changes in fasting glycemia and oral glucose tolerance were evaluated in STZ-induced diabetic rats (n = 8) treated with aqueous extracts of Musa x paradisiaca (200 mg/kg) for 20 days.

RESULTS

Chemical analyses detected 21 compounds and 17 metabolites were identified, among which were glycosylated and acetylated phenylpropanoids of p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, as well as a glycosylated flavonol and anthocyanins. Following 15 days of treatment, the bract aqueous extracts and the methanolic fraction of the flower had significant effects on the glycemic profile after glucose load in diabetic rats as compared with the untreated diabetic group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study show the antidiabetic potential of extracts of the flowers and bracts of M. x paradisiaca.

Chemical profiling and functional properties of dietary fibre rich inner and outer bracts of culinary banana flower

The present study endeavoured to evaluate the nutritional, phytochemical and functional properties of outer and inner bracts of culinary banana flower which is a by-product of banana production. Both outer and inner bracts were found to be rich in dietary fibre (61.13 and 66.22%, respectively) along with other chemical compositions including proximate, minerals, and antioxidant-rich phenolics both free and bound. In addition, the functional properties including glucose dialysis retardation index (GDRI) of outer and inner bracts were also studied. The outer and inner bracts exhibited total polyphenols 7.56 and 9.44 mg phenols/g dry sample, respectively. The polyphenol profile by HPLC, revealed the presence of significant amount of free and bound phenolics in both outer and inner bracts. Functional properties of these dietary fibres-rich fractions of culinary banana flower exhibited lower bulk density, higher water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, and water-swelling capacity in outer and inner bracts than cellulose. The outer and inner bracts showed relatively higher GDRI compared to control and cellulose. The results revealed that both the outer and inner bracts of culinary banana flower are rich source of dietary fibre along with high antioxidant activity and could be one of the promising functional ingredients for low-calorie and high-fibre food product.

Health Benefits of Green Banana Consumption: A Systematic Review

Despite the growing demand for green banana (GB) products, there is no review study regarding their potential health benefits. We aimed to compare the health benefits among different GB products by a systematic review. We researched six electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) from inception to March 2019. We found 1009 articles in these databases. After duplicate removal, we screened 732 articles' titles and abstracts, and selected 18 potentially relevant studies for full-text reading. We added five records from the reference list of the fully-read articles and seven suggested by the expert. Twelve articles were excluded. In the end, 18 studies were considered for this systematic review. Ten studies were conducted with green banana flour and eight with the green banana pulp/biomass. Most of the GB health benefits studied were related to the gastrointestinal symptoms/diseases, followed by the glycemic/insulin metabolism, weight control, and renal and liver complications associated to diabetes. Only one study did not confirm the health benefit proposed. It is necessary to standardize the GB dose/effect to different age groups and different health effects considering the GB variety and ripeness level. Further studies are necessary to present better detailing of GB product and their health effects considering all the raw-material characteristics.

R. R, Thomas S, Nisha P. Short chain fatty acids enriched fermentation metabolites of soluble dietary fibre from Musa paradisiaca drives HT29 colon cancer cells to apoptosis

In this study, the prebiotic potential of soluble dietary fibre extracted from plantain inflorescence (PIF) was investigated. PIF demonstrated prebiotic potential by enhancing the growth of the probiotics under study and thereby hindered colon cancer development. The soluble dietary fibre from Musa paradisiaca inflorescence (PIF) was fermented using Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The fermentation supernatants (LS and BS) were enriched with short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and were able to initiate apoptotic signalling in HT29 colon cancer cells leading to cell death. Both BS and LS exhibited cytotoxic effect; induced DNA damage and enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species in HT29 cells leading to apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis was facilitated by the reduction of membrane potential of mitochondria and ATP synthesis; enhanced delivery of cytochrome c and interference with the expression of pro/antiapoptotic proteins. BS, which exhibited better activity, was further analysed for the identification of differentially regulated proteins by performing two dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results emphasized on the fact that, the exposure to BSalteredthe HT29 proteins expression, particularly the upregulation of apoptosis- inducing factor-AIFM1 leading to apoptosis of HT29 cells.

Screening of Musa balbisiana Colla. seeds for antidiabetic properties and isolation of apiforol, a potential lead, with antidiabetic activity

BACKGROUND

'Phytonutrients' have been reported to exert an incredible impact on the healthcare system and offer medical benefits including the prevention or treatment of lifestyle-associated diseases. We chose one of the most common and important plant families, Musaceae, for our present study and explored its antidiabetic potential.

RESULTS

Seeds of the edible fruits of Musa balbisiana Colla. were investigated for their antidiabetic potential. After estimating the proximate composition, the seeds were extracted with various solvents and evaluated for antidiabetic potential in terms of the inhibition of digestive enzymes, antiglycation activity and in vitro glucose uptake. The acetone extract demonstrated the highest inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes with IC₅₀ values of 36.67 ± 0.367 and 100.61 ± 0.707 µg mL^-1 , respectively. The extract also exhibited significant glycation inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 86.48 ± 0.751 µg mL^-1 . Furthermore, a major phytochemical, apiforol, was isolated from the acetone extract for the first time, which demonstrated promising α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀  = 48.25 ± 0.255 µmol L^-1 ), antiglycation property (IC₅₀  = 114.23 ± 0.567 µmol L^-1 ) and enhanced glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts. In molecular docking studies, apiforol efficiently bonded to the active sites of α-glucosidase enzyme 3A4A.

CONCLUSIONS

As dietary intervention is one of the effective strategies for addressing diabetes, special attention is always given to natural food bio-actives or agro-products for better human health. The results of our study suggest that Musa balbisiana has significant potential as an ingredient in health food formulations by reducing postprandial hyperglycaemia. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary polyphenols modulate starch digestion and glycaemic level: a review

Polyphenols, as one group of secondary metabolite, are widely distributed in plants and have been reported to show various bioactivities in recent year. Starch digestion not only is related with food industrial applications such as brewing but also plays an important role in postprandial blood glucose level, and therefore insulin resistance. Many studies have shown that dietary phenolic extracts and pure polyphenols can retard starch digestion in vitro, and the retarding effect depends on the phenolic composition and molecular structure. Besides, dietary polyphenols have also been reported to alleviate elevation of blood glucose level after meal, indicating the inhibition of starch digestion in vivo. This review aims to analyze how dietary polyphenols affect starch digestion both in vitro and in vivo. We can conclude that the retarded starch digestion in vitro by polyphenols results from inhibition of key digestive enzymes, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as from interactions between polyphenols and starch. The alleviation of postprandial hyperglycemia by polyphenols might be caused by both the inhibited starch digestion in vivo and the influenced glucose transport. Therefore, phenolic extracts or pure polyphenols may be alternatives for preventing and treating type II diabetes disease.

Antidiabetic potential of Musa spp. inflorescence: a systematic review

Objectives

Extracts of parts Musa spp. have been used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine. Studies have shown that these extracts have hypoglycaemic properties. The aim of this work was to gather evidence on the antidiabetic effects of Musa spp. inflorescence.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted with searches in three electronic databases, along with manual searches. Studies evaluating the antidiabetic properties of extracts of flower or bract of the genus Musa (in vitro or in vivo) were included.

Key findings

Overall, 16 studies were found. The reported assays were of hypoglycaemic effects, oral glucose tolerance, inhibitory activities in carbohydrate metabolism and digestive enzymes, enhanced glucose uptake activity and popular use of the extract in patients with diabetes type 2. In vitro studies showed that use of the extract was associated with antidiabetic effects (e.g. increased glucose uptake and inhibition of carbohydrate digestion enzymes). In induced diabetic models, Musa spp. extracts showed dose-dependent glycaemic level reductions compared with pharmacological drugs (P &lt; 0.05).

Summary

In general, promising results regarding antidiabetic activity were found for inflorescence of Musa spp., suggesting that this plant could represent a natural alternative therapy for treating diabetes mellitus type 2.

Improvement in Nutritional Attributes of Rice Starch with Dodecyl Gallate Complexation: A Molecular Dynamic Simulation and in Vitro Study

To improve starch functionalities such as digestibility and antioxidant activity, rice starch was complexed with antioxidant dodecyl gallate (DG). Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the starch-DG inclusion complex was favorable, and in 50 ns, the dodecyl segment resided in the helix of the amylose cavities but the gallate tail left outside. This theoretical finding was validated by UV-vis spectroscopy, calorimetric, and crystalline measurements, indicating V-type crystalline structures containing type I and type II inclusion complexes can be formed after DG complexation. Meritedly, starch digestibility was mitigated by synchronously increasing slowly digestible starch (5.12-22.83%) and resistant starch content (8.69-14.17%), and the antioxidant activity was also significantly increased. Such inclusion complexes thereby acted as a carrier for targeting delivery of DG to the human lower gastrointestinal tract with potent antioxidant activity. Complexation with DG synergistically improved starch digestibility and antioxidant activity, favoring the intervention against chronic diseases, by ameliorating the postprandial glycemic response and oxidative stress.

R. R, Thomas S, Nisha P. Musa paradisiaca inflorescence induces human colon cancer cell death by modulating cascades of transcriptional events

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death, and diet plays an important role in the etiology of CRC.

Optimization extraction and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace obtained by shear homogenization-assisted extraction

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction conditions for shear homogenization-assisted extraction of soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace (s-SDF), and the absorption capacities and antioxidant activities of the obtained s-SDF were also investigated. The optimum extraction conditions consisted of a cutting speed of 9000 rpm, a cutting time of 20 min, a cellulase content of 5.0%, a hydrolysis time of 120 min, a pH value of 4.5, a hydrolysis temperature of 50 °C, and a raw material to water ratio of 1 : 45 g mL⁻¹. Under these conditions, the theoretical and actual extraction yields of s-SDF were 8.80% and 8.76%, respectively. An absorption capacity analysis indicated that s-SDF exhibited higher absorption abilities to sodium cholate, cholesterol and fat. In addition, s-SDF possessed higher antioxidant activities, showing a positive concentration effect relationship for DPPH˙, ABTS⁺, ·OH and O₂⁻˙. The concentration of 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ scavenged 76.72% DPPH˙, 58.40% ABTS⁺, 23.47% ·OH and 48.47% O₂⁻˙, respectively, and the reduction power was 0.70. These results indicated that pineapple pomace is a potential source of natural dietary fiber and a potential functional food ingredient.

Shear homogenization-assisted extraction method was successfully applied to extract soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace, and the absorption capacities and antioxidant activities of the obtained s-SDF were also investigated.