Effect Evaluation of Banana on Improving Hyperglycemia and Hypertension in Diabetic Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of dried and milled banana (BN) against streptozocin (STZ), nicotinamide (NA), and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) in 8-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods: First, we analyzed the resistance starch contents, anti-oxidant compositions and activity, and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of the BN. Then the DM animal model was performed. The SHRs were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group was fed normal chow, the DM group was injected with STZ/NA and fed HFD, and the DM/BN group was injected with STZ/NA and fed HFD having the carbohydrate content replaced with BN. Results: After 4 weeks, hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia occurred; moreover, HbA1c levels were higher and glucagon-like peptide 1 concentrations were lower, but blood pressure and heart rate did not worsen in the DM group. Related glucose metabolism and vasorelaxation proteins were disrupted by DM. However, in the DM/BN group, all of the above biochemical parameters were ameliorated by improving glucose homeostasis and clearly brought about improvements in blood pressure and heart rate as well. Conclusion: Together, the functional compositions of banana may help to improve DM, hypertension, and related complications.