Musa paradisiaca
February 22 2016
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013. Healing effects of Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca in diabetic rats with co-occurring gastric ulcer: cytokines and growth factor by PCR amplification.
BMC Complement Altern Med. November 2013. Healing effects of Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca in diabetic rats with co-occurring gastric ulcer: Cytokines and growth factor by PCR amplification.
J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2013
Effects of aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca root on testicular function
parameters of male rats.
There is an age-long claim that the Musa paradisiaca root is used to manage reproductive dysfunction, most especially
sexual dysfunction (as an aphrodisiac), but there are no data in the open
scientific literature that have refuted or supported this claim and the effects
of M. paradisiaca root on the testes. Therefore, this study was aimed at
investigating the effect of oral administration of the aqueous extract of M.
paradisiaca root on the testicular function parameters of male rat testes.
Methods: Sexually matured male albino rats (138.67±5.29 g) were randomly
assigned into four groups, A, B, C, and D, that respectively received 0.5 mL
(3.6 mL/kg body weight) of distilled water and 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight
of the extract, orally, once daily, for 14 days. Results: The extract
significantly increased (p<0.05) the testes-body weight ratio, total protein,
sialic acid, glycogen, cholesterol, activities of alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase,
acid phosphatase, and the concentration of testicular testosterone. In contrast,
the extract decreased the concentrations of both luteinizing and
follicle-stimulating hormones in the serum of the animals. The results revealed
that oral administration of M. paradisiaca root extract at doses of 25, 50, and
100 mg/kg body weight enhanced the testosterone-dependent normal functioning of
the testes. Conclusions: Overall, the aqueous extract of M. paradisiaca
stimulated the normal functioning of the testes and exhibited both androgenic
and anabolic properties. The results may explain the rationale behind the
folkloric beneficial effect of the plant in the management of reproductive
dysfunction.
Life Sci. 2015. Contribution of Musa paradisiaca in the inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and Angiotensin-I converting enzyme in streptozotocin induced rats. Unripe plantain based-diets are part of folklore remedy for the management of diabetes in tropical Africa; however, with the dearth of information on the rationale behind this practice; this study therefore, sought to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of traditional unripe plantain products (Amala and Booli) in high fat fed/low dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and to provide a possible rationale for their antidiabetic properties. A marked increase in the blood glucose, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and ACE activities with a corresponding decrease in plasma antioxidant status was recorded in diabetic rats. However, these indices were significantly (P < 0.05) reversed after unripe plantain product supplemented diet treatments for 14 days. Also, the amylose/amylopectin ratio of the products is 1:3. This study revealed that unripe plantain products exert antihyperglycemic effects which could be attributed to the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities by their constituent phytochemicals as well as their amylose/amylopectin contents in the diabetic rats, hence, providing the possible rationale behind their antidiabetic properties.