Tamarindus indica seeds improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism: An in vivo study.
Klíčová slova
Abstraktní
BACKGROUND
The tamarind seeds have a lot of nutrients that may be used to control cholesterol or glucose levels.
OBJECTIVE
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.
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.
CONCLUSIONS
Tamarind seeds can lower blood glucose and serum cholesterol and enhance storage of glycogen in rats.
