Overall, aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa palliates insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and oxidative rout in high-fructose-induced metabolic syndrome rats.

The effect of Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit pulp extract on dyslipidemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in the liver of high‐fat diet‐fed rats was investigated. High‐fat diet‐mediated alterations in liver and serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, very‐low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly (P < 0.05) reversed by the T. cucumerina pulp extract. The extract increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase in the mitochondria and post‐mitochondria fractions of rat liver. The increase significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated high‐fat diet‐mediated reductions in antioxidant enzyme activities. High‐fat diet‐mediated elevation in the levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and DNA fragmentation in rat liver was dose‐dependently lowered by the extract. The data obtained from this study showed that the T. cucumerina fruit pulp extract palliated high‐fat diet‐mediated dyslipidemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in rats. Practical Applications Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit pulp can be developed into a nutraceutical product to treat liver disorders. It can also be consumed at home and as substitute to Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina is sweet tasting, aromatic, deep red in color and does not go sour as quickly as paste of L. esculentum.

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Sorghum/millet-based beverages, Obiolor and Pito, were evaluated for their nutritional and antioxidant dispositions. Analyzed Obiolor and Pito contained 96% and 97% moisture; 7.8% and 3.7% crude protein; 8.9% and 5.6% available carbohydrate; 0.39% and 0.31% crude fat; 0.3% and 0.2% crude fiber; 2.4% and 1.5% ash; and 459.3 and 164 kJ/g energy value, respectively. Obiolor and Pito (1.0 mL) scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl by 87% and 81%; superoxide ion by 65% and 59%; hydrogen peroxide by 79% and 76%; and hydroxyl radical by 82% and 85%, respectively. The beverages significantly reduced ferric ion. Aflatoxin B1-mediated increase in lipid peroxidation products (conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, and malondialdehydes) and protein carbonyl in the microsomes were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by the beverages. The data obtained from this study show that the sorghum-based beverages (Obiolor and Pito) can serve as functional foods, as evident from their antioxidant capabilities in addition to their gross energy content.