Quercetin is a flavonoid that has been shown to have health-promoting capacities due to its potent antioxidant activity. However, the effect of chronic intake of quercetin on the gut microbiome and diabetes-related biomarkers remains unclear. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed HF or HF supplemented with 0.05% quercetin (HFQ) for 6 weeks. Diabetes-related biomarkers in blood were determined in mice fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with quercetin. Mice fed the HFQ diet gained less body, liver, and adipose weight, while liver lipid and blood glucose levels were also lowered. Diabetes-related plasma biomarkers insulin, leptin, resistin, and glucagon were significantly reduced by quercetin supplementation. In feces, quercetin supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The expression of genes Srebf1, Ppara, Cyp51, Scd1, and Fasn was downregulated by quercetin supplementation. These results indicated that diabetes biomarkers are associated with early metabolic changes accompanying obesity, and quercetin may ameliorate insulin resistance.

Colored common beans are associated with health promoting and chronic disease prevention effects. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with cooked black turtle beans (HFB) to prevent obesity related insulin resistance. Mice on both HF and HFB were obese compared to mice fed a low-fat (LF) diet. Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride concentrations of mice fed HFB diet were 28% and 36.6% lower than those on HF diet. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index of mice fed HFB diet was 87% lower than that of mice fed HF diet. Diabetes related biomarkers, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), leptin, glucagon, and inflammatory cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-5, 10 and 12, IFN-g and TNF-α were significantly affected by HFB diet. Pparα, Cyp7a1 and Fasn were down-regulated by HFB diet while LDL-R, Srebp-2, Adipoq and Slc2a4 were up-regulated by HFB diet. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) was also decreased 64.1% by HFB diet compared to HF diet. The results indicated that cooked black turtle bean consumption could ameliorate insulin resistance and lower plasma LDL in mice fed HF diet through glucose signaling pathway and JNK/c-Jun pathway. Meanwhile, cooked black turtle bean consumption restored the gut microbiome.

Tiger nut (TN) is a nutritious source of gluten-free flour, used generally in healthy beverages, but its incorporation in gluten-free extruded snacks has not been explored. TN flour was blended at different concentrations (up to 70%) with rice flour and soluble fiber, for the development of gluten-free snacks on a twin-screw extruder. The effect of TN inclusion in the formulations was evaluated on relevant physiochemical characteristics of the snacks. Viscoamylograph of the raw formulations showed that TN addition increased (p < 0.01) onset temperature and delayed peak viscosity. In the extruded flours, TN contributed to limit the starch degradation during extrusion. Diameter, expansion ratio, true density, and total pore volume of the extrudates were reduced (pf < 0.01) by the increased TN content in the formulations, while bulk density rose. The surfaces of the extruded snacks were modified by the increasing inclusion of TN in substitution of rice in the formulations. Extrudates containing 10% TN showed the best overall texture profile. Moreover, TN addition enhanced the ash and protein content of the snacks and increased their total antioxidant activity. This study demonstrated that incorporation of 10% TN flour into rice-based formulation was suitable for making gluten-free snacks with acceptable physical properties.

2018) Passion fruit shell flour and rice blends processed into fiber-rich expanded extrudates, CyTA -Journal of Food, 16:1, 901-908, ABSTRACT Novel formulations of passion fruit shell flour and rice blends were processed on a single-screw extruder, into value-added extrudates. The effects of extrusion processing variables of die temperature, feed moisture, and passion fruit shell flour content on the sectional expansion (SEI), longitudinal expansion (LEI), water absorption (WAI), and water solubility (WSI) indices of the extrudates were evaluated using a central composite design. The processing variables caused a marked effect on all the independent variables studied (SEI, LEI, WAI, and WSI). Passion fruit shell flour used in this study contained 56.76% of crude fiber. Additionally, the microstructural view of the cross-sectional areas, internal structure and surface appearance of extrudates containing 0-15% passion fruit shell flour in their formulation revealed that the addition of passion fruit shell flour led to a decrease in expansion and cell size, increase in thickness of air cell wall and rough surface appearance. This study demonstrated the usefulness of developing extruded rich in fiber from rice and passion fruit shell flour.Mezclas de harina de cáscara de maracuyá y arroz transformadas en piezas extruidas, expandidas y ricas en fibras RESUMEN En este estudio se formularon novedosas mezclas de harina a partir de la cáscara de maracuyá y de arroz. Empleando un extrusor de tornillo único, dichas mezclas se transformaron en piezas extruidas con valor agregado. Utilizando un diseño central compuesto se evaluaron los efectos de las variables propias de la extrusión -temperatura del troquel, humedad del material alimentado y contenido de la cáscara de maracuyá-en la expansión seccional (SEI), la expansión longitudinal (LEI), la absorción de agua (WAI) y los índice de hidrosolubilidad (WSI) de las piezas extruidas. Se constató que las variables vinculadas con el procesamiento incidieron de manera marcada en todas las variables independientes estudiadas (SEI, LEI, WAI y WSI). Las cáscaras de maracuyá utilizadas en este estudio contaban con 56.76% de fibra cruda. Además, la imagen microestructural de las áreas transversales, las estructuras internas y la apariencia superficial del material extruido con un contenido de 0-15% de la cáscara de maracuyá en su formulación da cuenta de que la adición de la cáscara de maracuyá produjo la disminución de la expansión y el tamaño de las células, aumentó el grosor de la pared de las células de aire y les dio mayor apariencia de tener superficie áspera. El presente estudio demostró la utilidad que conlleva desarrollar materiales extruidos ricos en fibras obtenidas del arroz y de la cáscara de maracuyá. ARTICLE HISTORY