Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) fiber prevents excessive blood glucose and body weight increase without affecting food intake in mice fed with high-sugar diet

Pachyrhizus erosus Inhibits Adipogenesis via the Leptin-PPARγ-FAS Pathway in a High-Fat Diet-Induced Mouse Model

In 2016, obese patients represented 13% of the worldwide adult population, and by 2030, they are projected to make up 34%. Obesity is an incommunicable disease, but it can induce many health problems. The groups consisted of a control, a 65% high-fat group, and a 250 mg/kg P. erosus group. Several biomarkers, such as body weight gain, the presence of TC/LDL/HDL in the serum, the weight of fat tissue, and liver weight/morphology, were investigated to define the anti-obesity mechanisms of P. erosus, and the adipogenesis pathway was studied. P. erosus suppressed body weight gain, decreased TC and LDL, prevented fat tissue weight gain, and prevented liver weight gain by blocking lipid droplet accumulation. P. erosus effectively decreased the up-regulated levels of leptin, significantly controlled both C/EBPα and PPARγ levels, and prevented increased FAS expression levels. We concluded that P. erosus effectively controlled obesity by regulating leptin-C/EBPα-PPARγ and FAS and might be a promising AOM.

Dietary fiber of jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L) tuber exerts hepatoprotective effect against high-sugar drinks in mice

Introduction: Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus, family Fabaceae) is a potent medicinal plant. Although extensive studies report the health benefits of jicama extract, few studies have investigated the efficacy of its dietary fiber in preventing metabolic diseases, including liver disease. The present study aimed to elucidate whether dietary fiber obtained from the jicama tuber counteracts the development of liver disease induced by high-sugar drinks. Methods: Twenty-four adult male mice (DDY strain; 2 months old with bodyweight 22-25 g) were randomized into three groups: normal drink (ND), fed with tap water and standard chow; high-sucrose drink (HSD), fed with a high-sucrose drink and standard chow; and high-sucrose drink plus standard chow with 25% jicama fiber (HSD + JF 25%). After the mice were on their respective diets for ten weeks, the following parameters were measured: body weight, liver weight, malondialdehyde (MDA), histopathological alterations, blood glucose, and serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT). Results: Mice in the HSD + JF 25% group had significantly lower body weight (P < 0.01), liver weight (P<0.05), MDA (P<0.01), blood glucose (P<0.01), and SGPT (P<0.01) compared to those in the HSD group. They also had fewer histopathological alterations in the liver, as demonstrated by a lower proportion of degenerated cells and an overall lower histopathological score than those in the HSD group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Adding jicama fiber (25% of standard chow) mitigates the increase in blood glucose and body weight and histopathological changes in the liver induced by high-sucrose drinks, showing liver protective activity.

Polysaccharides of nutritional interest in jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) during root development

Jicama root applications have focused on their nutraceutical properties without clearly specifying which compounds are related to this effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify the changes in polysaccharides of nutraceutical interest in two commercial jicama roots (YS – Yellow Seed; PS – Purple Seed) during four stages of maturation, focusing on starch, fructooligosaccharides, and pectin (via galacturonic acid), and on their glycemic index, with the goal of determining, if possible, the best cost‐effectiveness between jicama growing stages and nutraceutical effect. Both materials (YS, PS) presented similar growth rates (0.069 and 0.072 cm/day) and final sizes (12.7 ± 1.25, 12.3 ± 1.63 cm). Changes in size were accompanied by changes in protein, fiber, ashes, lipids, and carbohydrates, after 106 or 127 days of growing. It was also found that fructose content was higher than glucose during the maturing stages, possibly because of the hydrolysis of fructooligosaccharides or sucrose for starch production. Concerning inulin, its levels decreased (<6.0%), after the first days (YS: 13.4% ± 0.7%; PS: 8.4% ± 0.2%, 106 days); however, during development, the presence of other fructooligosaccharides was observed (nystose‐YS 106 days 15.8% ± 0.9% and PS‐106 days 18.5% ± 0.1%), while galacturonic acid and native starch levels increased, which must be related to the jicama's low glycemic index found (<25%), and their nutraceutical properties. This work proves the presence of inulin in jicama roots by analytical methods, its dependence on root development and classifies jicama as a low glycemic index food, supporting its nutraceutical character.

The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.: A Multifunctional Underutilized Crop Plant

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is an underutilized crop plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. In recent years, the plant received huge attention and was introduced in different countries owing to properties such as a high nutritional content, its nitrogen-fixing abilities, and different biological activities such as its antioxidant, immune modulation, anticancer, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, and antiaging affects, among others. In this review, an attempt has been made to comprehensively compile the biological activities of the plant to provide a panoramic view of the current efforts and further directions, which may lead to the development of pharmacological applications. This information will be helpful in creating interest towards P. erosus and it may be useful in developing the plant for medical applications and/or as a functional food. More than 50 phytochemicals have been reported from the plant, which belong to different chemical classes such as triterpenoids, organic acid, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Numerous biological activities were reported from the plant through in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and human studies. However, well-defined clinical studies are still lacking for the establishment of any biological properties that could be further developed. Suggestions for the further development of P. erosus, according to current knowledge about the different biological properties, has also been provided.

Beneficial Effect of Pachyrhizus erosus Fiber as a Supplemental Diet to Counteract High Sugar-Induced Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Background and aims: Edible fiber isolated from the tuber of yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus, Leguminosae) has been suggested to prevent the development of metabolic diseases caused by excessively consuming sugary foods. However, it is unclarified whether P. erosus fiber (PEF) is also capable of preventing liver diseases. This study aimed to determine the effectivity of PEF in counteracting the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by excessive intake of high-sugar diet (HSD).

Material and method: 25% of PEF in HSD (w/w) was fed in BALB/c mice for eight weeks followed by subsequent morphological and histological examinations of the liver at the end of treatment in comparing with HSD alone.

Results: We found that supplementation of 25% PEF sustained the normal morphological feature of the liver in HSD-fed mice. Moreover, PEF also prevented the development of microvesicles in the liver tissue, nuclear shrinkage, and hepatolysis as indicators of liver disease. Macrophages infiltration as a marker of liver inflammation was also less observed in PEF-treated mice.

Conclusions: PEF could effectively elicit a beneficial effect against NAFLD caused by HSD. Hence, PEF is suggested to be used as a potent supplemental diet to preclude the metabolic diseases caused by HSD.