Effects of dietary supplementation of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit pulp powder on some biochemical parameters in a type 2 diabetes rat model

Chrysophyllum albidum (C. albidum) is an indigenous fruit, found predominantly in African countries. The fleshy pulp of the fruit is widely consumed by the populace and used in folklore for diabetes management. The present study was carried out to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit pulp powder (CAPP) on biochemical parameters in a type 2 diabetes rat model, induced by a combination of high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg kg −1) for 14 days. Diabetic rats were placed on dietary regimen containing 5–10% Chrysophyllum albidum fruit pulp powder (CAPP) supplemented diet. The results revealed that there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in the average feed intake and weight changes between the rat groups. Furthermore, supplementation with CAPP gradually reduced blood glucose level in diabetic rat compared to control diabetic rats without CAPP supplementation. Moreover, reduced activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase were observed in CAPP and metformin-treated rat groups when compared to control diabetic rats without CAPP supplementation. In addition, CAPP showed significantly (P < 0.05) elevated levels of antioxidant status (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) while significantly (P < 0.05) reduced malondialdehyde level. Histologically, a pale stained cellular architecture in pancreas depicting an atrophy and decreased size of islet of Langerhans were observed in control diabetic rats without CAPP supplementation while CAPP and metformin-treated rat groups showed a preserved cellular morphology with increased size of islet of Langerhans. The results suggest that the C. albidum fruit pulp diet may attenuate hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in the type 2 diabetic condition and therefore provides pharmacological basis for the folkloric use of this fruit as a therapy for the management of oxidative stress induced pathologies.