The study aimed at determining nutritional, antioxidant and blood glucose lowering potentials of improved plantain-based dough meals enriched with defatted soybean and tigernut flour. The constituted dough meals [PSB (plantain 64.46, defatted soybean 35.54%), TNS (tigernut 59.83, defatted soybean 40.17%); PTS (plantain 51.07, tigernut, 11.50, defatted soybean, 37.43%); TNT (100% tigernuts); PLT (100% plantain) and CNT (a commercial flour)] were evaluated for nutritional, antioxidant and blood glucose concentration in streptozotocin-induced diabetics rats. The improved dough meals contained appreciable amount of protein, energy value, and high in antioxidative activity than PLT. Blood glucose reducing potential of improved plantain-based dough meals (60.5–71.9%) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was higher than PLT, but comparable to acarbose (anti-diabetic drug) (69%). The present study established that improved traditional plantain-based dough meals (particularly PTS) was high in essential nutrients, antioxidative activities, and blood glucose reducing potentials. Hence, the dough-meals may be suitable for diabetes management.

Purpose This study was aimed to develop and evaluate nutritional efficacy and bio-efficacy of food products from plantain, soycake, rice-bran and oat-bran flour. Design/methodology/approach The flour samples were blended as follows: plantain 70% and soycake 30% (PS); plantain 65%, soycake 30% and rice bran 5% (PSR); plantain 65%, soycake 30% and oat bran 5% (PSO); and plantain 60%, soycake 30%, rice bran 5% and oat bran 5% (PSRO). Antioxidant and nutritional properties of the blended foods and controls (100% plantain and Cerolina) were determined. Findings Protein (16.2–19.4 g/100g) and biological values (98.5–99.3%) of the food samples were significantly (p = 0.03) higher than 100% plantain (5 g/100g, 31.6%) and Cerolina (17.9 g/100g, 98.3%). Pack cell volume (36.2–42%), serum protein (7.3–9.3 mg/dL), urea/creatinine (1.1–2.8) and aspartate-aminotransferase/alanine-aminotransferase ratio (0.9–1) of the foods were significantly (p = 0.03, 0.01, 0.02 and <0.01, respectively) higher than 100% plantain (28%, 1.6 mg/dL, 4.6 and 0.8) and Cerolina (46%, 4.9 mg/dL, 3 and 0.73). In vivo antioxidant activity of the food samples decreased from PSRO to PSO, PSR and PS, respectively and were higher than control samples. Nutritional performance of formulated foods in rats was similar to that of Cerolina, but higher than in 100% plantain. Cerolina and 100% plantain were rated higher in overall acceptability than formulated foods; however, PSO was most preferred followed by PSRO for the formulated foods. Originality/value The study established that PSRO was rated best in terms of nutrition, growth performance and antioxidant activities. Hence, this food may be suitable as functional food to prevent malnutrition and oxidative stress.

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This study was designed to evaluate the nutritional property of plantain-based dough meal, antioxidant activity and dyslipidemia-ameliorating potential in high-fatinduced rats. The flour blends, that is, plantain 70%, soy cake 30% (PSC); plantain 65%, soy cake 30%, rice bran 5% (PSR); plantain 65%, soy cake 30%, oat-bran 5% (PSO); plantain 60%, soy cake 30%, rice bran 5%, oat-bran 5% (PSRO); and controls (100% plantain flour and Cerolina) were evaluated for proximate, amino acids, antioxidants, phenolic profile, and antihyperlipidemia. Protein, fiber, and energy composition varied from 2.2 to 4.97 g/100 g, 16.44 to 19.59 g/100 g, and 369.7 to 385.5 kcal/100 g, respectively. The essential amino acid index and predicted biological values of the foods ranged from 68.31% to 76.31% and 62.19% to 71.48%, respectively. Phenolic profiles (mg/g) were gallic acid (25.33-31.26), caffeic acid

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