Use of unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) in the management of diabetes and hepatic dysfunction in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

Functional foods of sub-Saharan Africa and their implications in the management of type 2 diabetes: A review

Throughout the world, the prevalence of metabolic diseases in general and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in particular is constantly growing, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is not spared. The use of functional foods is a more practical option among the different approaches used in the management of T2DM owing to the fact that they are relatively less costly, safer, and more accessible. In addition to their low glycemic index just like foods currently used to manage diabetes, functional foods contain bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, dietary fibers, saponins, and peptides. They are so named because they have additional health advantages beyond their basic nutritional worth. Bioactive compounds can be found in a variety of SSA plant-based foods, such as spices, fruits, vegetables, legumes, starchy foods, prepared foods, mixed foods, and prepared dishes. The goal of this review is to highlight some of the investigations into the effectiveness of local food and their antidiabetic mechanisms that have been studied in various SSA regions. Using the literature review as a basis, the authors state that SSA foods are rich in various bioactive compounds capable of regulating blood sugar through enhanced glucose tolerance, antioxidant effects, insulin sensitivity, and inhibition or activation of some key enzymes of the glucose metabolism that are linked to the prevention and management of T2DM. Many of the cited findings are preliminary, obtained from cell and preclinical studies, and therefore other studies need to be done to demonstrate the full potential of these foods to serve as bases for dietary guidelines.

Plantain flour: A potential anti-obesity ingredient for intestinal flora regulation and improved hormone secretion

Introduction

Development of functional food ingredients with anti-obesity is a growing interest in the global food industry. Plantain (Musa spp. AAB), a special type of cooking/starchy banana, is widely growing in African and Latin American countries. The flour made from unripe plantain pulp, which is considered as a natural source of indigestible carbohydrates such as resistant starch (RS), could be used in the formulation of diverse functional foods due to its anti-obesity properties. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity properties of plantain flour are not explored.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the changes in serum hormone levels, liver transcriptome profiles, and the modulation of gut microbiota in high-fat-fed Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The male SD rats were divided into six groups, viz. two control groups [non-obese (NC) or obese (OC)] which were not given the supplementation, one positive control (PC) group which received orlistat supplementation (60 mg/kg body weight/day), and three groups of obese rats which were supplemented with unripe plantain flour (UPF) at a dosage (body weight/day) of 1.25 g/kg (low-dose, LD), 2.50 g/kg (intermediate-dose, MD) or 5.0 g/kg (high-dose, HD).

Results and discussion

It was found that UPF supplementation could lower the insulin levels of the obese rats. Moreover, UPF supplementation had a positive impact on gut microbiota, decreasing the relative abundances of Blautia, Parasutterella and Fusicatenibacter which were closely related to obesity, and increasing the relative abundances of probiotics (Allobaculum, Romboutsia, Staphylococcus, and Bacteroides). The spearman correlation analysis revealed that UPF supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Parasutterella and possibly decreased the blood sugar levels, leading to a decrease in the relative abundances of Blautia and Fusicatenibacter and a subsequent decrease in insulin levels. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of the liver tissues displayed that the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-1α (PPAR) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway genes (Pparaa, Cpt1a, Prkaa1, Prkab1, Prkaa2, and Ppargc1a) were upregulated in those groups supplemented with UPF. These results indicated that UPF could mediate the glucolipid metabolism in the obese rats. Taken together, our findings suggested that the anti-obesity properties of UPF could be achieved by decreasing the insulin levels, positive-regulating of the gut microbiota composition as well as altering gene expression related to glucolipid metabolism.

Diet supplemented with boiled unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) exhibited antidiabetic potentials in streptozotocin-induced Wistar rats

The ameliorating effect and antidiabetic properties of diets augmented with boiled unripe plantain (20%-40%) in high fat fed/low dose of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats in comparison with the administration of acarbose were evaluated in this study using standard methods. High fat fed/low dose of streptozotocin (25 mg/kg body weight) was given to twenty-five male Wistar rats to induce diabetes leaving out 5 normal rats to serve as control. The animals were separated into five with six rats in each group and the experiment continued for 14 days. Investigations on the blood glucose concentration, enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, angiotensin I converting enzyme), thiobarbituric reaction substance (TBARS), High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), and antioxidant status were determined. The findings revealed a rise in blood glucose level and the activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, angiotensin I converting enzyme, thiobarbituric reaction substance (TBARS) in untreated diabetic rats in group II while a reverse was observed in diabetic rats (Group IV and V) on exposure to diets augmented with boiled unripe plantain. The obtained overall results in diet treated groups are similar to that of acarbose treated groups. The untreated diabetic rats (Group II) exhibited contrary results of the biochemical assays. This finding showed that boiled unripe plantain can provide the therapeutic measures that needed to be further explored as possible future economic means of managing diabetes in developing nations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As diabetes has been implicated to disrupt various pathways involved in the metabolism of macromolecules, there are proposed adoptive methods of preventing them among which is the inhibition of starch hydrolyzing enzymes, increasing the enzymatic antioxidant status and prevention of lipid peroxidation, Plantain by-product which is known as an inexpensive food can be prepared to manage the condition of diabetes in patients. Our former in vitro findings have revealed the bioactive contents of unripe plantain product which has been further explored in vivo to experiment is nutritional benefits. The study therefore proposes that unripe plantains, when boiled, can provide the necessary natural therapeutic measures to be considered as a potential economic means of managing diabetes in underdeveloped countries.

Chitosan Nanogel with Mixed Food Plants and Its Relation to Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic and Meta-Analysis Review of Observational Studies

This systematic review with metanalysis evaluated and analyzed the beneficial effects of certain plants food in type 2 diabetes (T2D) when consumed alone or in combination with chitosan. The main objective of the paper was to examine the relation of chitosan nanogel and mixed food plant (MFP) to control T2D. The databases included Medline, Scopus, PubMed, as well as Cochrane available between the month of January 1990 to January 2021. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies were case-controlled studies that included unripe plantain, bitter yam, okra, and chitosan either used-alone or in combination with non-specified food plants (NSFP). Two-fold autonomous critics retrieved the information required and evaluated the risk of bias of involved studies. Random-effect meta-analyses on blood glucose controls, were performed. Results of 18 studies included: seven that examined unripe plantains, one bitter yam, two okras, and eight chitosan, found regarding the decrease in blood glucose level. Meta-analysis of the results found a large proportion of I² values for all studies (98%), meaning heterogeneity. As a consequence, the combined effect sizes were not useful. Instead, prediction interval (PI) was used (mean difference 4.4 mg/dL, 95% PI -6.65 to 15.50 and mean difference 3.4 mg/dL, 95% PI -23.65 to 30.50) rather than the estimate of its confidence interval (CI). These studies were at 50% high risk of bias and 50% low risk of bias and there was judged to be an unclear risk of bias due to the insufficient information from the included study protocol (moderately low). The intervention lasted between three and 84 days, indicating potency and effectiveness of the intervention at both short and long durations. Due to the moderately low quality of the studies, the findings were cautiously interpreted. In conclusion, the current evidence available from the study does support the relation of chitosan with mixed unripe plantain, bitter yam and okra for the management of T2D. Further high-quality case-controlled animal studies are required to substantiate if indeed chitosan nanogel should be cross-linked with the specified food plant (SFP) for the management T2D.

Supplementation of overripe pulp extract and green peel extract or powder of banana fruit peel (musa. cavendish) to diets of neonatal dairy calves: Effects on haematological, immunological and performance characteristics

The present study investigated the effects of overripe pulp and green peel extract and powder of banana fruit (Musa. cavendish) on haematological, biochemical, immunological, health, and performance of Holstein dairy calves. In all, 40 newborn calves were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals. In the control group, animals received no banana meal. In group 1, calves were supplemented with 2 g (dry matter)/kg body weight/day of overripe banana pulp extract. The calves in group 2 were supplemented with 1 g (dry matter) of overripe banana pulp extract/kg body weight/day and 1 g (dry matter) of green banana peel extract/kg body weight/day. The animals in group 3 were supplemented with 2 g/kg body weight/day of green banana peel powder. The feeding period of calves on the tested supplements was 5 days. Blood samples and other evaluations were taken on day 0 (at birth, before supplementation) and on days 7, 15 and 30. Just a trend towards better average daily weight gain was seen in groups 2 and 3 than others (p = 0.073). Significant group and sampling time interactions were seen for the quantities of RBC (group 1 was lower than other groups at day 30), MCV (group 3 was lower than other groups at day 30) and MCH (group 1 was higher than other groups at day 30) (p < 0.05). A trend towards significance in values of IgG (group 1 was lower than other groups at days 15 and 30) and bilirubin (higher values at day 7 in groups 1 and 2 than control, higher amounts at days 15 and 30 in groups 3 and 2 than control, respectively) was also observed. In conclusion, banana supplementation in neonatal calves had beneficial effects on the values of RBC, MCV, MCH, bilirubin, IgG and average daily weight gain in dairy calves.

Hypoglycemic effect of biscuits produced from flour blends of three medicinal foods on high-fat diet-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The study evaluated the hypoglycemic effect of biscuits produced from flour blends of three medicinal foods (Unripe plantain fruits, Moringa seed, and pigeon pea) on high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (HFD/STZ) diabetic rats. The formulated biscuits were produced at different proportion of the flour blends and fed to HFD-STZ-induced diabetic rats for 14 days. The result showed that the formulated biscuits caused a significant increase in pancreas, liver, and kidney antioxidant molecules, decreased the production of thiobarbituric reactive acid species (TBARS) in pancreas, liver, and kidney homogenates, and reduced pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase activities as against untreated diabetic rats. In conclusion, the use of formulated biscuits from the blends of flours from unripe plantain, Moringa seed, and pigeon pea could serve as functional food toward the treatment/management of diabetes and its possible complications such as diabetes-induced liver and kidney damage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The drug use in the management of diabetes such as acarbose have been reported to have side effects, while diet therapy is gaining much interest in the management of diabetes. Hence, there is a need for diets base therapy that will not only cure diabetes, but also combat its complications. In sight of this, unripe plantain, Moringa seed, and pigeon pea flours were blended and used to produce functional biscuits for diabetic rats. The biscuit could be produced on the large scale under hygienic and regulated condition.

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.

Toxicological profile of the aqueous-fermented extract of Musa paradisiaca in rats

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the toxicity profile of the aqueous-fermented extract of Musa paradisiaca in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In acute toxicity test, the rats of different groups were orally administered with a single dose of 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg of fermented extract of M. paradisiaca. The rats were monitored for behavioral changes, toxicity signs and mortality. In sub-acute test, the rats were orally administered with fermented M. paradisiaca extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated and histopathological studies of the liver and kidney were done. The study was performed from June to July 2017.

RESULTS

Concerning the acute toxicity, no toxicity signs or death were recorded and an LD₅₀ value of >5 g/kg for fermented extract of M. paradisiaca was observed. Regarding the sub-acute toxicity, ingestion of the fermented extract of M. paradisiaca caused no significant effects (p<0.05) in terms of relative organ weight, body weight percentage, haemoglobin, red blood cells count, electrolytes levels, lymphocytes count, basophils count, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. However, significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in white blood cells, eosinophils, platelets, neutrophils and monocytes counts, and urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The histological assessments of the liver and kidney showed normal results.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study has suggested that daily administration of fermented extract of M. paradisiaca at doses up to 800 mg/kg for 14 days, is not toxic and may be considered safe for therapeutic uses.