Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench) fruit powder standardized in flavonoids improves glycemic control and metabolic memory in acute and chronic hyperglycemia

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with high global prevalence characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. Elevated blood glucose levels are associated with constant oxidative stress and increased protein glycation, establishing a metabolic memory state. Therefore, the efficacy of the Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench) Fruit Powder Standardized in Flavonoids (OFP-SF) was evaluated in glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, and metabolic memory, using zebrafish models of acute and chronic hyperglycemia. The OFP-SF was produced from dried fresh fruits and subsequently subjected to characterization regarding its antioxidant potential and chemical composition. Finally, the product was standardized to contain 1.6% flavonoids. In acute hyperglycemia, OFP-SF at doses of 125 μg and 250 μg demonstrated the ability to normalize blood glucose levels, reaching levels of 94.56 ± 5.9 mg/dL and 76.88 ± 8.9 mg/dL, respectively, when administered prior to glucose overload. The same doses were tested in a chronic hyperglycemia model, where after a seven-day treatment, animals receiving 125 and 250 μg of OFP-SF exhibited glycemic values of 73.45 ± 15.67 mg/dL and 33.96 ± 5.31 mg/dL, respectively, comparable to those observed in the Control group (49.48 ± 2.77 mg/dL). Furthermore, OFP-SF was able to mitigate metabolic memory by reducing oxidative stress and protein glycation in the brain, liver, and eye tissues of hyperglycemic zebrafish. These findings provide a basis for developing new products that utilize the phytochemical potential of A. esculentus fruits for the prevention and adjunctive treatment of T2DM.