Antihyperglycemic activity of Pondoh snake fruit seed, bitter melon seed, mangosteen peel, Cavendish banana peel, cascara, and cocoa husk

Abstract

The high diabetes mellitus cases and adverse side effects of conventional antihyperglycemic drugs highlights the urgency to evaluate specific foods with natural antihyperglycemic properties. The objective of this research is to investigate the antihyperglycemic activity of Pondoh snake fruit seed, bitter melon seed, mangosteen peel, Cavendish banana peel, cascara, and cocoa husk. Aqueous extracts were analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Mangosteen (161.92 mg GAE/g DW) and Cavendish banana peel extract (169.15 mg GAE/g DW) were among the highest observed TPC values, with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Conversely, cascara extract (638.94 μg QE/g DW) was known to have the highest TFC (p < 0.05). All samples exhibited low RSA despite high TPC, with the highest values found in Pondoh snake fruit seed (18.57%) and Cavendish banana peel extract (17.78%), though they are significantly similar (p > 0.05). Bitter melon seed extract had the highest α-amylase inhibition (70.90%), while mangosteen peel extract had the highest α-glucosidase inhibition (68.80%). Further studies are required to validate and provide comprehensive understanding of the benefits of the plant-based food waste aqueous extracts before functional product development.