Aim Onion is one of the commonly cultivated and consumed vegetables rich in nutrients and phytochemicals. Various nutraceuticals are found in the outer fleshy layers and dry peel of onion which usually is treated as a common biowaste. Diabetes mellitus is a leading non communicable disease causing hyperglycemia and increased production of free radicals that potentially disrupts antioxidant enzymatic activity. Considering global consumption of wheat, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of wheat bread supplemented with onion peel extract (OPE) or onion powder (OP) on diabetic rats. Methods In this study, ethanolic extract of onion peel and onion bulb were prepared separately. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 7). Different regimens of supplemented wheat bread (OPE (1% and 3%) and OP (5% and 7%)) were given to diabetic rats for eight weeks, plain bread was used as the control. Blood glucose level, body weight and activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GSH and MDA in the liver and kidney tissues were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version (25) and Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Results Bread supplemented with 1% and 3% onion peel extract and 7% onion powder significantly reduced blood glucose levels and MDA in the treated rats compared with the control group diabetic rats. Body weight of diabetic rats was reduced for control group, while onion supplemented diet improved the body weight of treated rats. Onion supplementation also brought significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities among the treated diabetic rats. Conclusion These findings suggested that onion supplementation is effective in lowering blood glucose and could potentially aid in protecting organs from oxidative stress.

Wheat is one of the important food crops worldwide while wheat bread is the most commonly consumed form of it in different populations. As Nigella sativa is rich in several phytochemicals that possess disease preventive properties hence, the proximate and sensory analysis of the breads supplemented with Nigella sativa extract and oil have been discussed in this study. Nigella sativa is one of the famous medicinal plants that has been used for treatment of various illnesses in different parts of the world. Compositional analysis revealed that Nigella sativa extract supplemented bread contains 14.75% moisture content, 10.32% crude fat content, 4.40 % ash and 3.55 % crude fiber, 11.89% crude protein and 55.09% Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE). In comparison, analysis of Nigella sativa oil supplemented revealed that it contains 14.23%, moisture content, 10.53% crude fat content, 4.10% ash and 3.20 % crude fiber, 11.79% crude protein and 56.15% NFE. Sensory evaluation was evaluated using 9 points-hedonic scale. Maximum score for overall acceptability was recorded for Nigella sativa extract fortified bread. In the meantime, the requests for wheat-based items with value addition are developing quickly in the previous couple of decades, as customers understood that eating foods with medical advantages is superior to taking medicine. The breads fortified with Nigella sativa will not only meet the consumer demands in terms of sensory attributes but might also aid in improving their health.

In millennia, medicinal plants have gained greater interest owing to the presence of a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds which possess potential health benefits. Among these functional plants, cinnamon verum has captured more attention due to its multiple medicinal activities. In this review article, efforts were made to overview the functional properties of cinnamon verum with special reference to type II diabetes. Literature demonstrated that cinnamon verum possesses different pharmaceutical activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, wound recuperating, anti-HIV, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant activities. Moreover, hypoglycemic activity of cinnamon verum is attributed to the presence of various bioactive compounds especially cinnamaldehyde and other components of extract and essential oil.