H.A. OBOH

The global rise in Type 2 Diabetes necessitates dietary interventions, with low-glycemic functional foods offering a promising management strategy. While the separate health benefits of indigenous crops like Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), Cardaba banana (Musa Balbisiena), and beetroot (Beta vulgaris) are known, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding their synergistic efficacy in a composite food product. This study therefore aimed to develop and evaluate the blood glucose-lowering potential of a functional snack bar formulated from these indigenous Nigerian ingredients. Bambara groundnut, Cardaba banana, and beetroot were processed into flours/powders. Three snack bar formulations (Samples A, B, C) with varying proportions of these ingredients, along with guava leaf and cinnamon powder, were developed. The nutritional composition of the snacks was determined through proximate analysis (AOAC methods) for moisture, ash, crude FIBER, fat, protein, and carbohydrate content. Consumer acceptability was assessed via sensory evaluation by a 75-member panel. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. The proximate analysis revealed a strong nutritional profile across all samples, characterized by high complex carbohydrate (66.04-70.78%) and FIBER content (0.60-1.43%), alongside low fat (0.87-1.00%) and appreciable protein levels (7.32-7.95%). Sensory evaluation indicated high consumer acceptability, with Sample C emerging as the most preferred formulation. In conclusion, the study successfully developed a palatable and nutrient-dense functional snack bar from indigenous crops, with a composition conducive to glycemic control. The formulated snack, particularly Sample C, represents a viable, culturally acceptable dietary option for managing Type 2 Diabetes, warranting further in-vivo studies to confirm its anti-diabetic efficacy.

The rising prevalence of Hypertension has increased the search for functional foods that provide both nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This study focused on the production and evaluation of functional biscuits made from selected plant materials including Cardaba Banana, Beetroot, Tigernut, Justicia carnea, and Soybean. The aim was to determine their antioxidant scavenging abilities and evaluate their potential as a natural antihypertensive snack.

Composite flours were prepared from the selected plant materials and incorporated into biscuit formulations. The resulting products were analyzed for phytochemical profile, mineral content, and proximate composition to determine their nutritional value and bioactive components. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power methods.

The findings revealed that the formulated biscuits contained appreciable levels of dietary fiber, potassium, nitrates, betalains, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other phytochemical compounds known for their antioxidant properties. The antioxidant evaluation demonstrated notable free radical scavenging activity, suggesting that the biscuits possess significant functional potential.

The study concludes that the developed biscuits have considerable antioxidant capacity and may serve as a functional snack with potential antihypertensive benefits. Their consumption may therefore contribute to dietary strategies aimed at the management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Hypertension is a major public health challenge globally and has contributed significantly to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is caused by oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and lifestyle factors. Increasing interest in plant based alternatives has led to the use of polyherbal formulations, which provide synergistic antihypertensive and antioxidant effects. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of six selected leaves which are, Justicia carnea (blood leaf), Moringa oleifera (miracle leaf), Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Gongronema latifolium (utazi leaf), Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo leaf) and Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin). Previous studies shows that these plants contain important bioactive constituents like flavonoids, phenols, and vitamins which promote vasodilation, reduce oxidative stress, and support cardiovascular health. A polyherbal tea was formulated from the six leaves to evaluate its antioxidant capacity. The leaves were collected, authenticated, washed, shade-dried, pulverized, and stored in an airtight container. 50g of each of the leaves was measured and mixed in 1L of hot distilled water
in a ratio 5:1 to obtain aqueous extracts and then freeze-dried. The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed using FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl) assays to measure to scavenge free radicals (DPPH assay) and to reduce ferricions (FRAP assay). The result showed that the polyherbal extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity, with DPPH inhibition values of 71–85% and an IC₅₀ of 0.428 mg/mL, indicating good radical-scavenging ability. FRAP values (80–88%) confirmed high reducing power. Overall, this research confirms that the polyherbal tea possesses strong antioxidant compounds that can neutralize free radicals, support vascular health, and helps in the prevention and management of hypertension.

Hypertension is a major global health burden, often termed the "silent killer." The increasing prevalence, especially in low andmiddle-income countries, necessitates the development of accessible, non-pharmacological management strategies. Functional foods rich in bioactive compounds offer a promising approach for blood pressure control. This study seeks to develop an anti-hypertensive snack bar from Cardaba banana, beetroot, tigernuts, soyabeans, and Justicia carnea leaves and to evaluate its in vitro antioxidant and vasoprotective potential. Flours were individually prepared from the raw materials. Four snack bar formulations were developed: a control (with all-purpose flour) and three variations (Samples A, B, C) with increasing proportions of Cardaba banana flour. The samples were analyzed for their Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activity, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), and Nitric Oxide (NO) radical scavenging activity. All experimental samples (A, B, and C) demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant and NO-scavenging activities compared to the control. Sample A exhibited the most potent bioactivity, showing the strongest H₂O₂ and NO scavenging abilities, as well as the highest TAC. It also had the lowest IC₅₀ value for NO scavenging (12.5 μg/ml), indicating superior efficacy. The activities were dose-dependent, with Sample A > Sample B > Sample C >. The formulated snackbars, particularly Sample C, possess significant antioxidant and nitric oxide-related vasoprotective properties in vitro. These results suggest that the combination of Cardaba banana, beetroot, tigernut, soyabean, and Justicia carnea flours can yield a functional food with strong potential to mitigate oxidative stress and promote cardiovascular health, validating its development as a portable anti-hypertensive snack

This study was designed to evaluate the creatinine and urea values in experimental rats fed with aqueous fruit pulp extract of Piralima nitida (OSU). The expense of the orthodox drugs has led to the increase demand for medicinal plants that are effective to treat diverse ailment. Serum urea and creatinine are widely accepted parameters to assess chronic kidney disease status as well as to assess renal status in susceptible diabetic and hypertensive subjects. Urea and creatinine are nitrogenous end products of metabolism. The effect of daily intake of the aqueous unripe fruit pulp of P. nitida on renal function was studied. Six groups of five (5) rats each were distributed according to weight (average body weight 135.0-185.0g). The test groups received aqueous fruit pulp extract of Picralima nitida dissolved in distilled water at 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight/day/rat orally using gastric gavage. The normal control animals had distilled water ad libitum. The animals were observed for signs of toxicity and mortality throughout the experimental period. The weight and the feed consumed by the rats were measured weekly during the feeding trial with a weighing balance. At the 35th day, the animals were fasted for 12 hrs and euthanized by decapitation. Blood was collected in appropriate containers for biochemical evaluation. The serum from each group was used to determine the levels of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], and total protein [Randox] using commercial kits according to the manufacturer’s direction. Creatinine and urea levels in the treated groups were not significantly (p > 0,05) altered in the treated groups when compared to control. This means the Kidney is performing optimally well, these no disease condition attached to it.