Prevalence of obesity and type-2-diabetes requires dietary manipulation. It was hypothesized that wheat-legumecomposite breads will reduce the spike of blood glucose and increase satiety. Four pan bread samples were prepared: White bread (WB) as standard, Whole-wheat bread (WWB), WWB supplemented with chickpea flour at 25 % (25%ChB) and 35 % (35%ChB) levels. These breads were tested in healthy female subjects for acceptability and for effect on appetite, blood glucose, and physical discomfort in digestion. The breads were rated >5.6 on a 9-point hedonic scale with WB significantly higher than all other breads. No difference in area under the curve (AUC) for appetite was found, but blood glucose AUC was reduced as follows: 35%ChB < WB and WWB, WB >25%ChB = WWB or 35%ChB. We conclude that addition of chickpea flour at 35 % to whole wheat produces a bread that is acceptable to eat, causing no physical discomfort and lowers the glycemic response.

Prevalence of both obesity and diabetes rank the highest in Kuwait among the Middle East countries. White wheat bread (WWB), which is a high glycemic food, remains a popular staple of Kuwaiti people. The present study was designed to test if the glycemic response of wheat bread could be altered by supplementation with chickpea flour. The breads tested were WWB, whole wheat flour bread and whole wheat bread supplemented with either 25% or 35% chickpea flour. The organoleptic qualities such as color, texture, flavour and overall acceptability of the breads were evaluated by healthy females on a scale of 0 to 10. All parameters were ranked above 5.5, with an overall acceptability of 6. Glycemic and subjective appetite responses of the breads were compared. Thirteen young normal‐weight female volunteers consumed the test breads providing 50g available carbohydrate after an overnight fast once a week in a random order. Both visual analogue questionnaires to measure appetite and finger prick blood glucose testing were taken at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 min. Chickpea flour supplementation at 35% attenuated blood glucose compared to the WWB (0.01). Subjective appetite was not different among the treatments. These results show promising glycemic effects on preventing diabetes.

The scientific program of the Qur'anic Botanic Garden (QBG) is concerning with agricultural, conservational, biotechnology and medicinal fields. The QBG not only focusing on the study of the plants mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and Hadith, but also the endogenous plants of the Flora of Qatar and potential medicinal plants of the Arabic world. In the Hadith, the Prophet's sayings, there are more than 20 plants mentioned in the occasions of cosmetic or medicinal uses. The garden is conserving special kinds of plants collected from different parts of the world to be restored at one place for preservation and study purposes. Both ex-situ and in-situ conservational programs are designed to collect and conserve plants inside and outside their natural habitats. The QBG plant nursery, herbarium, and seeds units are main components of the QBG that build to produce and preserve the plants at QBG. More than 59 plant spices are preserved from three different geographical zones: desert, Mediterranean and tropical zones. The Garden also is collecting and preserving those traditional entities from the entire world in order to be exhibited in the Botanic Museum of the QBG. By following the Islamic principles of conservation, the QBG highlights these conservational ethics and explains them for all people. Garden emphasizes multi-activities, campaigns, events, fairs and exhibitions for the students and public in order to encourage people to preserve the natural resources through an ordinately oriented educational program which is based on plant conservation. Another side of QBG's conservation roles is the conservation based on community engagement and education. QBG's education programs, horticulture and conservation programs, dissemination activities, and partnerships are fundamental in ensuring the transfer of this knowledge to the global community.