Starch Content, Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Starch Hydrolyzing Enzymes by Unripe Musa paradisiaca and Musa acuminata

Food Sciences | Research article | https://doi.org/10.47262/SL/10.2.132022070

Starch Content, Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Starch Hydrolyzing Enzymes by Unripe Musa paradisiaca and Musa acuminata

Veronica O. Odubanjo 1, 2, Sidiqat A. Shodehinde 1*, Favour A. Adedeji 1, Joseph A. Daniel 1, Ayobami A. Olayinka 1, Precious A. Akinnusi 1, Samuel O. Olubode 1

1 Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

2 Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson. Mississippi. 39204, USA

Abstract

Research on natural products has gained worldwide attention due to the promising prospect of discovering plants that can inhibit starch hydrolyzing activity in the management of diabetes. In this study, Musa paradisiaca flour (MAF) and flour pastry (MPP), and Musa acuminata flour (MAF) and flour pastry (MAP) were prepared from fresh unripe Musa species. The corresponding flour and flour pastry (mixture of flour in hot water to form a gel) of the samples were investigated to estimate their starch contents, antioxidant activities [DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl), and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging ability], total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results revealed that the starch contents showed no significant difference in their values as the flour and the flour pastry samples of Musa spp. exhibited a low level of sugar release and glycaemic index. The antioxidant potentials of both samples were also not significantly different. The inhibitory activities of the Musa spp. on starch hydrolyzing enzymes were higher in Musa paradisiaca than in Musa acuminata. The antioxidant properties and starch hydrolyzing inhibition tendencies exhibited by unripe Musa acuminata in comparison with Musa paradisiaca show that both species can be an economical source of a natural scavenger of free radicals in the body to fortify the prevention and management of blood-glucose-related diseases.