Modulatory effect of poundo-breadfruit meals on diabetes-Wistar rats: in vitro and in vivo studies

Abstract Hyperlipidemia is a leading cause of obesity-related diseases in Africa particularly in Nigeria and efforts have been on-going in reducing the prevalence through diet interventions by compositely combining plant materials from breadfruit flour (BF), Africa yam beans (AYB) flours and wheat bran (WB) and rice bran (RB). This study evaluates the modulatory effect of poundo-breadfruit meals (PBM) on Wistar rats fed with manipulated diets to induced obesity. The high 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and iron chelating activities observed in blends 70% BF, 25% AYB, 5% WB (BAW) and 70% BF, 20% AYB, 5% WB, 5% RB (BAWR) compared with a commercial sample, Poundo-yam flour (PYF), may help in increasing insulin secretions by combating oxidative stress, a major determinant in the development of type 2 diabetes. In addition, total cholesterol (⁓100 mg/dl), triglyceride (⁓50 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein (⁓50 mg/dl) of Wistar rats fed on formulated diets particularly BAW and BAWR showed significant reductions while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (> 70 mg/dl) was raised in diabetic animals. The low serum lipid profile observed could be attributed to the antioxidant level in the formulated diets. Therefore, these novel products may help in the management of diabetes.