TITLE:
Antihyperglycemic Activity of Moringa oleifera Lam Leaf Functional Tea in Rat Models and Human Subjects
AUTHORS:
Edith N. Fombang, Romuald Willy Saa
KEYWORDS:
Moringa oleifera Functional Tea, Antihyperglycemic Activity, Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, Humans, Rats
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.7 No.11,
September
23,
2016
ABSTRACT: Maintenance of glycemic control is important in preventing diabetes and its associated
complications. Considering the current recommended approach for the use of
functional foods and their bioactive components in the prevention and management
of diabetes, the aim of this study was to determine the antihyperglycemic effect of Moringa oleifera functional tea in rat models and in normoglycemic human volunteers
using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Moringa tea prepared by extracting
Moringa leaf powder in distilled water (1:20 mg/ml) at 97°C for 30 min was administered
at different doses to male Wistar rats and human volunteers prior to glucose
loading. Blood glucose was measured at intervals of 30 min for 150 min. Consumption
of Moringa tea prior to glucose loading suppressed the elevation in blood
glucose in all cases compared to controls that did not receive the tea initially. The
degree and pattern of decrease however, were dose dependent. In rats, intermediate
doses of 20 ml/kg BW were more effective in reducing blood glucose overall (18.2%)
vs 13.3% and 6% at doses of 10 and 30 ml/kg BW respectively. In humans, the final
decrease in blood glucose was not significantly different for high 400 ml (19%) and
low 200 ml (17%) doses. Of interest here was the pattern of decrease, being significantly
higher (p Moringa oleifera tea has potential as a functional food in
the management of hyperglycemia.