Evaluation of Conophor Nut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) Protein Isolates, Hydrolysate and Ethanolic Extract Ameliorating Potential on Hepatological and Renal Dysfunction of Streptozocin-induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Aim: This study aimed at extracting bioactive components from conophor nut as a probable nutraceutic in the treatment of diabetes.

Place and Duration: Food Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, and Biochemistry Laboratory of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, from June 2023 to September 2023.

Methodology: Protein isolate (CNPI) was produced via alkaline solubilisation of defatted conophor nut flour using NaOH. Hydrolysate was prepared by fermentation using Lactobacillus fermentum BGT10 for 24, 48 and 72 hours (CNPH24, CNPH48, CNPH72) respectively while the ethanolic extract (CNE) was prepared by steeping defatted conophor nut flour in 95% ethanol. Diabetic model rats were subjected to hyperlipidemic diet for 4 weeks and then induced by single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). The rats were randomly divided into 18 groups of five (5) rats each; negative control group, diabetic control group, reference (positive) control group as well as the treatment group; CNE, CNPH24, CNPH48, CNPH72 and CNPI administered dose dependently namely, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Oxidative stress was evaluated in liver and kidney by antioxidant markers, and also kidney functions were determined in diabetic control and treated rats.

Results: When compared with diabetic rats, oral administration of treatments at a concentration of 1000 mg/kg daily for 28 days showed significant reduction in biochemical parameters of liver and kidney for CNE, CNPH24, CNPH48, CNPH72 and CNPI respectively. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in significant increase in SOD, GSH, GST and CAT and decrease in MDA in the liver and kidney respectively.

Conclusion: Results from the study suggest that CNE, CNPH24, CNPH48, CNPH72 and CNPI may effectively normalize dysfunctional antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetics in a dose-dependent manner.