2016

Metabolic effects of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM): Randomized, placebo controlled double blind

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are potential mediators to maintaining healthy intestinal flora and have garnered an area of wide research in the past few years. The current study assesses the in vivo effects of probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum MBTU-HK1), prebiotic (acacia gum) (either singly or in combination as a synbiotic on growth performance), biochemical, hematological, physiological, and immunological effects and their role in the reduction of procarcinogen enzyme activities in male Balb/c mice. The absence of treatment-related toxicity and a normal physiological range of biochemical and hematological parameters ensure their safe consumption. The synbiotic group was found to possess lowered cholesterol levels and enhanced protein and mineral content. The probiotic and synbiotic groups reinforced immunoglobulin levels and had a modulatory effect on phagocytosis. A lymphocyte proliferation pattern suggested the stimulatory effect of synbiotic combination on splenocyte viability and proliferation. Total antioxidant capability in the liver was determined by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and all the treatment groups were found to possess increased scavenging activity. Synbiotic and prebiotic treatment was observed to lead to reduced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels. Bacterial procarcinogenic fecal enzyme activities were found to be decreased, proving their role in the prevention of colon cancer incidence. This study proves the potency and safety of oral administration of L. plantarum MBTU-HK1 and acacia gum either individually or in combination.

EFSA is re‐evaluating the safety of food additives already permitted in the Union before 20 January 2009 and issuing scientific opinions on their safety in line with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Acacia gum (E 414) was re‐evaluated in 2017 by the former EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS). As follow‐up to this assessment, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of acacia gum (E 414) as carry‐over in food for infants below 16 weeks of age belonging to food categories 13.1.1 (Infant formulae) and 13.1.5.1 (Dietary...

The practice of bone implants is the standard procedure for the treatment of skeletal fissures, or to substitute and re-establish lost bone. A perfect…

The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive. In the EU, acacia gum has not bee...

Gum arabic (GA), a water-soluble dietary fiber rich in Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+, is used in Middle Eastern countries for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease. Recent animal experiments shed some light into mechanisms involved in the therapeutic action of GA. According to experiments in healthy mice, GA treatment increases creatinine clear

Previous research indicated that fiber in the diet of men lowers plasma lipid and LDL cholesterol concentration. To further study the lipid lowering effect of fibre, we conducted an animal study using rats with diet induced hyperlipidaemia. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimenta …

Study of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Crude Methanol Extract and Fractions of Acacia seyal Gum, Ahmed AM Elnour,Mohamed ES Mirghani,Kabbashi NA, Md Al

Acacia gum is a branched complex polysaccharide whose main chain consists of 1,3-linked β-D-galactopyranosyl units. Acacia gum is defined as a heteropolysaccharide since it contains ∼2% of a polypeptide. The major molecular fraction (F1) ...

Arabic gum (Acacia senegal, AG) is proven effective antioxidant and cytoprotective agent. The present study was designed to test this notion by investigating the possible role of AG against the radiographic contrast medium (Ioxitalamate, Telebrix-35®, TBX)-induced oxidative stress …

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a globally common and important disease and there are evidence for a bidirectional relationship between microbiota and…

Learn more about TRAGACANTH uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain TRAGACANTH.

Insulin entrapped alginate-gum tragacanth (ALG-GT) hydrogels at different ALG replacement ratios (100, 75, 50, 25) were prepared through an ionotropic gelation method, followed by chitosan (CH) polyelectrolyte complexation. A mild gelation process without the use of harsh chemicals was proposed to improve insulin efficiency. Retention of almost the full amount of entrapped insulin in a simulated gastric environment and sustained insulin release in simulated intestinal buffer indicated the pH sensitivity of the gels. Insulin release from hydrogels with different formulations showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Time domain (TD) NMR relaxometry experiments also showed the differences for different formulations, and the presence of CH revealed that ALG-GT gel formulation could be used as an oral insulin carrier at optimum concentrations. The hydrogels formulated from biodegradable, biocompatible, and nontoxic natural polymers were seen as promising devices for potential oral insulin delivery.

It’s clear that boosting prebiotic fiber goes a long way to balancing important areas of human metabolism and this in turn paves for the way for health.

The use of ultrasound treatment for improving the bioactive compounds and quality properties of a Brazilian nopal beverage was studied. Physicochemica…

Background and objectives: Type 2 diabetes has been increasing all over the world. A healthy diet, including particular functional foods is an effective strategy to prevent this form of diabetes. Nopal (Oputia ficus) is a cactus plant that, according to traditional medicine, has antidiabetic properties. The objective of this research was to examine the effects of different fractions of nopal cladodes on postprandial glycaemic regulation in healthy volunteers. Methods: Nopal cladodes flour was separated by centrifugation into two fractions (a water insoluble and a soluble fraction). The fractions were incorporated into two different test breads, i.e. insoluble fraction bread (INB) and soluble fraction bread (SNB), and evaluated with respect to acute glycaemic properties in 17 healthy subjects with normal body mass index, applying a randomized cross-over study design. The effects on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were compared with the responses after a control product, which composed of a similar bread lacking the nopal fractions (white wheat bread, WWB). The products were characterized with respect to starch and dietary fibre content. In addition, starch hydrolysis index (HI) was determined with an in-vitro method in order to predict glycaemic index (pGI),and elucidate possibly underlying mechanisms on postprandial glycaemia. Results: Results regarding glycaemic regulation show that insoluble nopal fractions had a beneficial effect on postprandial glucose regulation. Consequently, the incremental area under the postprandial blood glucose curve (iAUC) after INB was significantly reduced compared to after intake of the WWB during the time periods 0 – 45 and 0 – 60 minutes (p < 0.05). In addition, the iPeak value, i.e. the individual highest incremental peak concentrations, was significantly lowered after INB compared to WWB (P < 0.05). Regarding the postprandial insulin secretion, both SNB and INB lowered the postprandial iAUC compared to the WWB during the time period 0 – 45 and 0 – 60 minutes (P < 0.05). On the other hand, only the INB significantly reduced the insulin iPeak value compared to WWB (P < 0.05). In terms of HI, INB had lower HI and pGI compared to WWB and SNB. Also, INB exhibited highest total, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre contents. Conclusion: The INB promoted lower postprandial glucose and insulin response, while SNB showed beneficial effects only on postprandial insulin secretion. The beneficial effects of nopal on glycaemic regulation might be to some extent explained by the dietary fibre content, especially the INB. However, with respect to the improved postprandial insulin economy observed after the SNB, additional mechanisms are probably involved.

The present study introduces the ultrasonic modification of two Iranian native gum exudates, Persian gum (PG) and gum tragacanth (GT) for the first ti…

Introduction: The world has witnessed a global trend of increasing obesity, which is directly linked to non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). The epidemic of obesity is largely associated with consumption of high calorie diets and low physical activity. Food choice and exercise have a big impact to prevent obesity and T2D making these diseases highly related to personal lifestyle. The diet is one of the most important modifiable lifestyle factors that may be used to prevent obesity. Nopal (Opuntia Ficus Indica) is a cactus plant that has its origin in Mexico and has been used as traditional medicine to prevent overweight and obesity. Since Nopal cladodes are rich in several bioactive compounds, it may be considered as a functional food. The objective of this study was to investigate the perceived effect of Nopal cladodes on appetite variables in healthy humans. Method: Two test-products with two different fractions of Nopal cladodes flour (soluble Nopal fraction bread (SNB) and insoluble Nopal fraction bread (INB)) and a control product (white wheat bread (WB)) were studied in healthy young volunteers (n=17). The subjective appetite variables (hunger, satiety and desire to eat) were measured repeatedly by using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during a time perspective of three hours post consumption. Results: The INB resulted in significantly improved response in appetite variables (p < 0.05) compared to the WB. After consumption of the INB, the feeling of hunger and desire to eat were reduced by 27% and 32% respectively, while the feeling of satiety was increased by 25% during the period between 15-180 min post consumption. Importantly, the INB test product also resulted in a significant reduction on hunger and desire to eat, and an increased feeling of satiety during the final hour (120-180 min), compared to the control WB. Conclusion: The results indicate that the insoluble fraction of Nopal flour may beneficially affect appetite variables in healthy young adults. The results thus suggest that Nopal may help to modulate food intake and therefore contribute to antidiabetic effects previously observed with this edible plant.

Introduction Pharmaceuticals are a large and diverse group of compounds designed to prevent, cure, and treat disease, and improve health [1-2].  Significant fractions of the parent compound are excreted in un-metabolized form or as metabolites (active or inactive) into raw sewage and wastewater