Effect of Fenugreek Seeds and Its Bioactive Compounds on High Fructose High Fat Diet Induced Abnormalities in Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Fenugreek seeds are rich in various essential compounds and these components play a significant role in healing and treating diseases by regulating several biological activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of fenugreek seed (FS) and its bioactive compounds such as Fenu pulse (FP), Fenu fiber (FF), Diosgenin (Dsg) in High Fructose High Fat (HFHF) induced diabetic rats.After hyperglycemia was confirmed in HFHF rats compared with controls, further HFHF groups were supplemented with FS, FP, FF, Dsg, and combinations of these compounds. The HFHF diet was given for 4 months which increased the body weight, body fat percentage, and decreased lean body mass (LBM) and fat-free mass (FFM) percentage compared with controls rats. The diet combination was continued for another four months and it did not show any further effect on their body composition. There was a significant but marginal effect on fasting glucose and insulin, so the animals did not have overt hyperglycemia, let alone be diabetic. The FS or its components individually or in combination within a diet-induced rat model of diabetes showed no significant antidiabetic effect (glucose tolerance/metabolic parameters), both in the fasting and fed states wherein it elevated the levels of total and HDL cholesterol but not triglycerides (TG) upon continuous feeding for four months. The reduced effect of FS and its components appears due to moderate hyperglycemia in the HFHF rats.