Antidiabetic and Antilipidemic Effects of Manilkara zapota

Abstract

Manilkara zapota is a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Sapotaceae family; its parts are used in alternative medicine to treat coughs and colds and possess diuretic, antidiarrheal, antibiotic, antihyperglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. There are no studies on metabolic profile after using the fruit, and this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the leaf and pulp of M. zapota fruit on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats. Male rats were treated for 50 days with M. zapota leaf juice or fruit juice, after which their biochemical and body composition profiles were analyzed (glycemia, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), insulin, leptin, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, Lee Index, and body mass index). Our results indicate significantly lower levels of glycemia, insulin, leptin, cholesterol, and triglycerides and augmented levels of HDL-c in animals treated with the leaves or fruit of this plant. The percentage of weight gain also declined in animals treated with M. zapota fruit pulp. The use of the M. zapota may be helpful in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and their complications.

Secondary Metabolites Produced by an Endophytic Fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora

“…The fruits are popular in tropical countries and the leaves are used for antidiabetic treatment. Various antidiabetic and antilipidemic effects of M. zapota fruits have been reported [11]. In addition, the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of the plant have been reviewed [12].…”

Can the consumption of Seeds, Leaves and Fruit Peels avoid the risk factors for Cardiovascular Disorders?

“…Fagbohun & Odufuwa (84) observed that the leaves of the cashew tree (Anarcadium occidentale L.) demonstrated hypoglycemic activity in rats induced to diabetes by streptozotocin. And the leaves of the sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) also demonstrated cardioprotective effects by reducing the levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, cholesterol and triglycerides in Wistar rats (85) .…”

The Influence of Drying Temperatures on the Metabolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Manilkara zapota Leaves

“…A decoction of the leaves of M. zapota is used as an antipyretic, for treatment of hemorrhage, wounds, and ulcers; other uses include a remedy for diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, lack of appetite, and normalization of blood pressure [9]. Some pharmacological studies have confirmed specific medicinal properties of the leaves such as antidiabetic, antilipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antioxidant activity [10,11,12,13]. While the phytochemistry of the fruit has been explored, reporting the presence of bioactive and novel polyphenols [14], the leaves have only had qualitative studies suggesting the presence of phenols and flavonoids [10] and a single phytochemical study reporting the isolation of lupeol acetate, oleanolic acid, apigenin-7-O-α- l -rhamnoside, myricetin-3-O-α- l -rhamnoside, and caffeic acid [15].…”