Hypolipidemic activity of common (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) buckwheat

Abstract

Buckwheat grain has well-balanced nutritional value, whereas its digestibility is relatively low. This review summarizes recent advances in studies on the hypolipidemic activity of buckwheat. The most remarkable function is a powerful hypocholesterolemic activity of buckwheat protein in rats, which is far stronger than that of soy protein. The cholesterol-lowering effect is mediated by mechanisms involving higher excretion of fecal sterols and lower digestibility of buckwheat protein. The insoluble fraction of buckwheat protein associates with cholesterol and reduces micelle cholesterol uptake in caco-2 cells. Furthermore, consumption of buckwheat protein suppresses cholesterol-induced gallstones and body fat in rodents. Buckwheat sprouts also have hypolipidemic activity in rats or type 2 diabetic mice. Tartary buckwheat bran extract reduced the serum level of total cholesterol and triglyceride in hyperlipidemic rats. The consumption of buckwheat seed reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the pastureland Mongolian population. Taken together, buckwheat may be beneficial for prevention of hyperlipidemia.

Dynamic changes in polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and PAL gene expression in different tissues of buckwheat during germination

“…Besides the common nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, and minerals, buckwheat also contains a range of bioactive components including polyphenols (mainly rutin and quercetin), phytosterols, and carotenoids . Evidence from recent studies have proved that buckwheat possesses many beneficial pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti‐infection, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet, aggregation, and anti‐asthmatic effects . However, the large amounts of resistant starch, anti‐nutritional factors, and allergens contained in buckwheat is detrimental for the health benefit effect, digestion, and absorption of buckwheat in the gastrointestinal tract .…”

“…4,5 Evidence from recent studies have proved that buckwheat possesses many beneficial pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-infection, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet, aggregation, and anti-asthmatic effects. [6][7][8][9][10] However, the large amounts of resistant starch, anti-nutritional factors, and allergens contained in buckwheat is detrimental for the health benefit effect, digestion, and absorption of buckwheat in the gastrointestinal tract. 11,12 Germination is regarded as an efficient method to ameliorate the situation, while simultaneously bringing an enhancement in the polyphenol contents.…”

Assessment of a new artificial buckwheat species Fagopyrum hybridum as a source of plant raw materials compared to F. Tataricum and F. Esculentum

“…In buckwheat grain it was identified rutin, quercetin, and flavone C-glycosides (Zielińska et al, 2012). It has several pharmacological functions such as antiinflammatory, anti-diabetic (Lee et al, 2016; Kamalakkannan and Prince, 2006), blood capillary strengthening properties (Chua, 2013), and lipid-lowering activity (Tomotake et al, 2015). Also, rutin has cardioprotective effects (He et al, 1995;Wojcicki et al, 1995;Annapurna et al, 2009).…”

Characteristics of Carbohydrate Metabolism, Grain Quality and Yield Provide Insights into Rice-Tartary Buckwheat Improvement

“…Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn) is a functional coarse cereal belongs to Fagopyrum Mill [1][2][3]. The high levels of bioactive phytochemicals in Tartary buckwheat show many health benefits, such as anti-hyperglycemia, anti-hypertension and anti-hyperlipidemia [2,[4][5][6]. However, Tartary buckwheat is rare consumed as daily diet around the world due to the bitter taste of flour for cooking like wheat or the barrier of hulling for cooking like rice [7].…”