Hypolipidemic Effect of Red Gram (Cajanus cajan L.) Prebiotic Oligosaccharides in Wistar NIN Rats

ABSTRACT

The hypolipidemic effect of red gram prebiotics of raffinose family oligosaccharides was studied in Wistar National Institute of Nutrition male rat strain. The study consisted of 36 rats randomly divided into three groups of 12 rats each. For 16 weeks, Group I was fed with the control diet; Group II was fed with a diet containing 3% standard raffinose as the reference group; Group III received the diet containing 3% red gram prebiotics. The results showed that the gain in body weight was low in the red gram prebiotics–supplemented group followed by the control group; highest increase of body weight was seen in the raffinose standard–fed group. Serum glucose levels of the red gram prebiotic–fed group decreased 14.92% compared to the control group and increased 2.07% compared to the reference group. The decrease in serum triglycerides (TG) levels of the red gram prebiotic-fed groups was 32.76% compared to the control group and 33.64% compared to the reference group. Decrease in the serum TC of the red gram-fed animals was 18.51% and 4.63% compared to the control group and the reference group, respectively. Increase in the level of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the red gram-fed animals was 18.51% compared to the control group and 4.63% compared to the reference group. The present study can be a proof for the use of prebiotics as a preventive measure for overweight and obesity in humans, and legume prebiotics can be explored as a novel prebiotic product in the consumer market.

KEYWORDS:

• cholesterol
• oligosaccharides
• prebiotics
• red gram
• triglycerides

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, for his interest and encouragement.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. All authors are employed by National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR, Hyderabad, India.

About the authors

Devindra Shakappa holds MSc, MPhil and PhD degrees in Biochemistry. Currently he is working in Microbiology & Clinical Division at NIN, ICMR. His area of research is on the database of carbohydrate fractions and glycemic index/load of Indian foods and legume prebiotic oligosaccharides and their health benefits. Presently he is working on the enzyme replacement therapy for fabry disease.

Aruna Talari, MSc, is a PhD student of Microbiology & Immunology division and is interested in nutritional quality of legumes and their prebiotic potential and other health benefits.

Hemalatha Rajkumar has an MD in Microbiology from Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad. Currently she is Heading Clinical Division and Microbiology & Immunology at NIN, ICMR. Her research interest is HIV and nutrition, child nutrition, probiotics and reproductive health. Presently she is working on reproductive health in women and child nutrition.

Mohammed Shujauddin, MSc, is a PhD student of Microbiology & Immunology division currently working on inflammation in relation to malnutrition during pregnancy.