Beneficial effects of banana (Musa sp. var. elakki bale) flower and pseudostem on hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a chronic health problem and
major cause of death in most of the countries. Diet
management plays an important role in controlling
diabetes and its complications along with insulin and
drugs.We have examined the effect of banana (Musa sp.
var. elakki bale) flower and pseudostem on hyperglycemia
and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Our results indicated
that banana flower and pseudostem have low
glycemic index and have a high content of dietary fiber
and antioxidants. Diabetic symptoms like hyperglycemia,
polyuria, polyphagia, polydipsia, urine sugar, and
body weight were ameliorated in banana flower- and
pseudostem-treated rats. Increased glomerular filtration
rate in the diabetic group (5.1±0.22 ml/min) was
decreased in banana flower-fed (2.5±0.37 ml/min) and
pseudostem-fed (3.0±0.45 ml/min) groups and were
significant at P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively.
Fructosamine and AGEs formed during diabetes were
inhibited in treated groups when compared with the
diabetic group. The diabetic group showed 11.5±
0.64 μg of AGEs/mg protein in kidney, whereas, in
banana flower- and pseudostem-fed groups, it was
reduced to 9.21±0.32 and 9.29±0.24 μg/mg protein,
respectively, and were significant at P<0.01. These
findings suggest that banana flower and pseudostem
have anti-diabetic and anti-AGEs properties and are
beneficial as food supplements for diabetics.