Tamarindus indica seeds improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism: An in vivo study

BACKGROUND: The tamarind seeds have a lot of nutrients that may be used to control cholesterol or glucose levels. OBJECTIVE(S): The effects of tamarind seeds (T) on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in rats were studied. Rats were offered basal diet (BD) with T (2%, 4% or 8%) or without T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Feeding and growth performance in rats were measured and samples of liver and blood were analyzed for glycogen content and levels of cholesterol and glucose respectively. RESULTS: The inclusion of T in the diet influences the feeding and growth performance in rats. The serum cholesterol level was reduced (p < 0.05) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed on basal diet (BD) containing 4% and 8% T (0.24 ± 0.14 g/l and 0.31 ± 0.06 g/l respectively) compared to control (0.79 ± 0.04 g/l). The serum glucose levels in the spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) was lower (50.74 ± 2.50 mg/dl; p < 0.05) than control (93.52 ± 10.83 mg/dl) at 4% T. Incorporation of increasing doses of T resulted in linear increase of glycogen storage in livers of SD rats fed on BD and high sucrose diet. CONCLUSION: Tamarind seeds can lower blood glucose and serum cholesterol and enhance storage of glycogen in rats.