Tamarindus indica seeds improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism: An in vivo study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
Background: The tamarind seeds have a lot of nutrients that may be used to control cholesterol or glucose levels. Objective(s): The effects of tamarind seeds (T) on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in rats were studied. Rats were offered basal diet (BD) with T (2%, 4% or 8%) or without T. Materials and methods: Feeding and growth performance in rats were measured and samples of liver and blood were analyzed for glycogen content and levels of cholesterol and glucose respectively. Results: The inclusion of T in the diet influences the feeding and growth performance in rats. The serum cholesterol level was reduced (p < 0.05) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed on basal diet (BD) containing 4% and 8% T (0.24 ± 0.14 g/l and 0.31 ± 0.06 g/l respectively) compared to control (0.79 ± 0.04 g/l). The serum glucose levels in the spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) was lower (50.74 ± 2.50 mg/dl; p < 0.05) than control (93.52 ± 10.83 mg/dl) at 4% T. Incorporation of increasing doses of T resulted in linear increase of glycogen storage in livers of SD rats fed on BD and high sucrose diet. Conclusion: Tamarind seeds can lower blood glucose and serum cholesterol and enhance storage of glycogen in rats.
Keywords
Tamarind seeds, Glucose, Glycogen, Cholesterol, Spontaneous hypertensive rats, Feeding and growth performance
Divisions
InstituteofBiologicalSciences
Funders
IPPP University of Malaya
Publication Title
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
Volume
9
Issue
4
Publisher
Elsevier