Unripe banana flour (Musa cavendishii ) promotes decrease in weight gain and elimination of fecal cholesterol in Wistar rats
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 13 August 2019
Issue publication date: 22 January 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the chemical composition of unripe banana flour from Southeast Brazil and verify its nutritional, physiological and biochemical properties in adult Wistar rats.
Design/methodology/approach
Analysis of soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, carbohydrate, resistant and total starch and energy was obtained. In all, 18 male Wistar rats were given different concentrations of unripe banana flour (0, 10 and 20 per cent) and these assessments were performed: feed, caloric and water intake; weight gain; coefficient of food efficiency; weight of organs; body, tibia and femur length; total mineral of bones; and biochemistry of blood, hepatic fluids and feces.
Findings
Unripe banana flour showed a potential for weight control as well as increased fecal cholesterol excretion. These results showed the potential of unripe banana flour for obesity treatment and lipid excretion. Nevertheless, plasma triacylglycerol levels increased in the animals that received the largest amount of banana flour (20 per cent w/w), possibly because of the large amount of resistant starch in the flour, indicating the need for additional studies to confirm the mechanisms responsible for this increase.
Originality/value
Unripe banana flour may promote beneficial health effects (such as weight control and increased elimination of cholesterol in feces); however, the large amount of resistant starch present may be responsible for an increase in blood triacyglycerol.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Citation
Escobar, A., Rocha-Gomes, A., Reis, C.G.M.d., Herrera, K.N.S., Guedes, T.d.J., Silva, A.A.d., Lessa, M.R., Dessimoni-Pinto, N.A.V. and Riul, T.R. (2020), "Unripe banana flour (
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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