Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Aqueous Extract of Carica papaya Leaf on the Experimental Model against Single Alloxan Toxicity

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of aqueous extract of Carica papaya leaf on the toxicity were investigated. A total of thirty rats were divided into six groups of 5 rats: Group A: Normal control, Group B: Negative control, Group C: Positive control I, Group D: Positive control II, Group E: Test control I, Group F: Test control II. Diabetes was induced with a single dose of alloxan (120mg/kg) body weight and serum glucose was taken 72hrs after induction to confirm diabetes. The oral administration for hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia started on the 4th and 8th day of the experiment respectively. The result showed that Carica papaya leaf extract significantly and progressively lowered the glucose level, TG, TC and LDL dose dependently while significantly causing a dose-related elevation in HDL concentration when compared to the untreated control and positive control groups (I & II) treated rats. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The aqueous extract of this plant can be used to brew a tonic that will allay the metabolic disruption produced by diabetes

Effect of water yam (Dioscorea alata) flour fortified with distillers spent grain on nutritional, chemical, and functional properties

It was envisaged that the inclusion of treated distiller ’ s spent grain ( DSG ) to yam fl our might increase its nutritional value, with the aim of reducing nutritional diseases in communities consuming yam as a staple. Hence, yam fl our was fortifi ed with DSG at 5–35%. The effects of this fortifi cation on the nutritional, chemical, and functional properties of yam fl our were investigated. The result showed a signifi cant increase ( P 0.001) in fat, ash, protein, total amino acids, total dietary fi ber, and insoluble dietary fi ber contents of the blends as DSG increased except for starch and soluble dietary fi ber contents, which decreased. The functional properties showed a signifi cant ( P 0.001) reduction with DSG inclusion. The inclusion of DSG increased both the tryptophan and methionine contents of the blends. Therefore, the DSG fortifi ed yam fl our could contribute to quality protein intake in populations consuming yam as a staple, due to its indispensible amino acid content

From cassava to gari: Mapping of quality characteristics and end-user preferences in Cameroon and Nigeria

User's preferences of cassava and cassava products along the value chain are supported by specific root quality characteristics that can be linked to root traits. Therefore, providing an evidence base of user preferred characteristics along the value chain, can help in the functional choice of cassava varieties. In this respect, the present paper presents the results from focus group discussions and individual interviews on user preferred quality characteristics of raw cassava roots and the derived product, gari, ‐ one of the major cassava products in Sub Saharan Africa ‐ in major production and consumption areas of Cameroon and Nigeria. Choice of cassava varieties for farming is mainly determined by the multiple end‐uses of the roots, their agricultural yield and the processing determinants of roots that support their major high‐quality characteristics: size, density, low water content, maturity, colour and safety. Processing of cassava roots into gari goes through different technological variants leading to a gari whose high‐quality characteristics are: dryness, colour, shiny/attractive appearance, uniform granules and taste. Eba, the major consumption form of gari in Cameroon and Nigeria is mainly characterized by its textural properties: smoothness, firmness, stickiness, elasticity, mouldability. Recommendations are made, suggesting that breeding will have to start evaluating cassava clones for brightness/shininess, as well as textural properties such as mouldability and elasticity of cassava food products, for the purpose of supporting decision‐making by breeders and the development of high‐throughput selection methods of cassava varieties. Women are identified as important beneficiaries of such initiatives giving their disadvantaged position and their prominent role in cassava processing and marketing of gari