Evaluation of Taiwan's Unique red Quinoa Chenopodium formosanum (Djulis) and its Extracts in Improving Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Chenopodium formosanum (also known as red quinoa or Djulis) is a unique crop in Taiwan. Djulis is rich in nutrients and functional ingredients, which is of great value to explore its efficacy in preventing metabolic syndrome. Objective: This animal study evaluated the efficacy and pharmacological mechanisms underlying Djulis and its extract on improving metabolic syndrome. Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 per group): a control group fed a regular diet and water, a HFD group fed a high-fat diet (HFD), a Djulis group fed a HFD in which its carbohydrate was replaced with Djulis, and a DE group fed a HFD and oral gavage of Djulis extract (DE; 25mg/kg). Results: After 14 weeks, the HFD group had obviously increased body and liver weights compared with the controls. As expected, the HFD increased blood levels of OGTT, fasting glucose (FBG), HbA1c, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), uric acid, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels as well as hepatic TC, fecal TG, TC, and bile acid levels. Djulis significantly slowed the increase in body weight and liver weight, and brought about improvements in the above biochemical values and increased the secretion of insulin. DE was not effective for weight control and increasing fecal fat excretion. Western blot analysis showed that Djulis and DE reversed abnormalities in biochemical parameters associated with HFD-worsened protein expressions of glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and peroxidation clearance. Djulis and its extract had similar anti-metabolic syndrome effects, though Djulis was more efficacious, a finding we speculated was probably due to its dietary fiber. Conclusion: Djulis and the extract could potentially be used as a functional food or developed into nutritional supplements to help control metabolic syndrome and its complications. conclusion: Djulis and the extract could potentially be used as a functional food or developed into nutritional supplements to help control metabolic syndrome and its complications.