title: Protective effect of dietary tender cluster beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) in the gastrointestinal tract of experimental rats.
abstract: In this study, the gastrointestinal protective effect of soluble, dietary fiber-rich tender cluster beans, with respect to the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the concentration of antioxidant molecules, was examined in Wistar rats. Dietary intervention with tender cluster beans (15% freeze-dried powder in the diet for 8 weeks) significantly enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and GPX) and the concentrations of antioxidant molecules in both gastric and intestinal mucosa. Further, in combination with capsaicin (0.01%), the beneficial effect was even higher. There is a strong indication that tender cluster beans offer a significant gastroprotective effect, and a much greater effect when combined with capsaicin in terms of increased antioxidant status. In a separate study, these dietary components were found to alleviate the diminished activities of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant molecules in gastric and intestinal mucosa under conditions of ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The gastroprotective effect of the cluster bean was also reflected in its positive effect on gastric mucosal glycoproteins, resulting in a lowering of mucosal injury. Incidentally, the serum and liver also showed an elevated antioxidant status, thus suggesting desirable lowered oxidative stress results when tender cluster beans are consumed.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, CSIR, Mysore 570020, India.
authors: Shubhra
authors: S
authors: Pande
authors: Krishnapura
authors: K
authors: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D031293:Cyamopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000431:Ethanol