RESUMEN
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.
RESUMEN
The effects of avocado seeds (A) inclusion (2%, 4% and 8%) in diets on cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism in normal rats Sprague Dawley (SD) fed on basal diet (BD) or high sucrose diet (HSD) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) fed on BD were studied. The inclusion of avocado seeds in the diet influences the feeding and growth performance in rats. The inclusion of A lowered (p < 0.05) cholesterol at 2% and 4% doses and glucose at 2% in serum of SD rats fed on BD, whereas only serum cholesterol level was reduced at all the three doses in SHR. Increased liver glycogen (p < 0.05) was noted in SD rats fed on BD with 8% A. All avocado seeds doses increased (p < 0.05) liver glycogen storage in SHR fed on BD and SD rats fed on HSD. Avocado seeds can lower blood glucose and cholesterol and enhance liver glycogen storage in rats.
Los efectos de la inclusión de semillas de aguacate (A) (2%, 4% y 8%) en dietas sobre el metabolismo del colesterol y carbohidratos en ratas normales Sprague Dawley (SD) alimentados con dieta basal (BD) o dieta con alto contenido en sacarosa (HSD) se estudiaron las ratas hipertensas (SHR) alimentadas con BD. La inclusión de las semillas de aguacate en la dieta influye en la alimentación y el crecimiento en ratas. La inclusión de A disminuyó (p < 0,05) el colesterol a dosis del 2 y el 4% y glucosa al 2% en suero de ratas SD alimentadas con BD, mientras que solo el nivel de colesterol sérico se redujo en todas las 3 dosis en SHR. Se observó un aumento del glucógeno hepático (p < 0,05) en ratas SD alimentadas con BD con un 8% de A. Todas las dosis de semillas de aguacate aumentaron (p< 0,05) el almacenamiento de glucógeno hepático en SHR alimentado con BD y SD alimentadas con HSD. Las semillas de aguacate pueden reducir la glucosa y el colesterol en la sangre, y aumentar el almacenamiento de glucógeno hepático en ratas.
