Kafirin microparticle encapsulated sorghum condensed tannins exhibit potential as an anti-hyperglycaemic agent in a small animal model

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Authors

Links, Malory R.
Taylor, J.R.N. (John Reginald Nuttall)
Kruger, Marlena C.
Naidoo, Vinny
Taylor, Janet

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Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

In vitro analysis has indicated that sorghum condensed tannins (SCT) survived simulated gastric digestion and inhibited digestive amylases when encapsulated in sorghum kafirin protein microparticles (SCT-KEMS). This study investigated SCT-KEMS as a potential anti-hyperglycaemic nutraceutical agent in vivo. Oral starch tolerance tests were performed on healthy rats. SCT-KEMS prevented a blood glucose spike and decreased the maximum blood glucose level by a mean of 11.8% compared to the water control, the same reduction as the acarbose standard. Neither SCT-KEMS nor acarbose elevated serum insulin levels. Further, the rats took the SCT-KEMS willingly,unlike the case with the unencapsulated SCTs. SCT-KEMS are potentially effective nutraceuticals for the management of hyperglycaemia because of the high affinity of SCT for the proline-rich kafirin and kafirin’s slow digestibility, which enables SCT bitterness to be masked and delivered to the small intestine to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolysis, reducing glycaemic response.

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Keywords

Encapsulation, Hyperglycaemia, Kafirin, Oral starch tolerance test, Sorghum tannins, Sorghum condensed tannins (SCT), Sorghum kafirin protein microparticles (SCT-KEMS)

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Citation

Links, MR, Taylor, J, Kruger, MC, Naidoo, V & Taylor, JRN 2016, 'Kafirin microparticle encapsulated sorghum condensed tannins exhibit potential as an anti-hyperglycaemic agent in a small animal model', Journal of Functional Foods, vol. 20, pp. 394-399.