The Glucose-Lowering Effect of Foxtail Millet in Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance: A Self-Controlled Clinical Trial

Identification and Expression Analysis of the WOX Transcription Factor Family in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors are unique to plants and play pivotal roles in plant development and stress responses. In this investigation, we acquired protein sequences of foxtail millet WOX gene family members through homologous sequence alignment and a hidden Markov model (HMM) search. Utilizing conserved domain prediction, we identified 13 foxtail millet WOX genes, which were classified into ancient, intermediate, and modern clades. Multiple sequence alignment results revealed that all WOX proteins possess a homeodomain (HD). The SiWOX genes, clustered together in the phylogenetic tree, exhibited analogous protein spatial structures, gene structures, and conserved motifs. The foxtail millet WOX genes are distributed across 7 chromosomes, featuring 3 pairs of tandem repeats: SiWOX1 and SiWOX13, SiWOX4 and SiWOX5, and SiWOX11 and SiWOX12. Collinearity analysis demonstrated that WOX genes in foxtail millet exhibit the highest collinearity with green foxtail, followed by maize. The SiWOX genes primarily harbor two categories of cis-acting regulatory elements: Stress response and plant hormone response. Notably, prominent hormones triggering responses include methyl jasmonate, abscisic acid, gibberellin, auxin, and salicylic acid. Analysis of SiWOX expression patterns and hormone responses unveiled potential functional diversity among different SiWOX genes in foxtail millet. These findings lay a solid foundation for further elucidating the functions and evolution of SiWOX genes.

Millets as a dietary supplement for managing chemotherapy induced side effects

Millets, the nutria-cereals, are one of the oldest utilized grain. Millets are reported to possess nutraceuticals health benefits which include improvement in functioning of digestive system, reduction in cholesterol, prevention of heart disease, protection against diabetes, lowering risks of cancer etc. With the widespread commemoration of the International Year of Millets in 2023, the Indian government is moving towards the global recognition of millets in light of its medicinal value in correction of lifestyles diseases. One of the common non-communicable diseases is cancer. Chemotherapy is used as adjuvant, neo-adjuvant or as a combination, in metastatic settings. It is linked to outcomes, but it also has unfavorable side effects that lower a patient's quality of life. The reported chemotherapy side effects includes loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, hair loss, osteoporosis, immunological suppression and gastric disturbances such as dry mouth, altered taste, ulcers, constipation etc. The effectiveness of tumor therapy and the extension of treatment are both influenced by side effect management. One way to help cancer patients with their polypharmacy load is through dietary management. Rich in phytochemicals, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, millets can be suggested as a dietary therapeutic intervention in addition to chemotherapy. Being widely accessible, cost effective, nutrient-dense, high in fiber, gluten-free, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid lowering, gastro-protective, immunomodulator in action, millets can serve as a good diet choice to minimize side effects of chemotherapy.

Polyphenols from whole millet grain (Setaria italica) alleviate glucose and lipid homeostasis in diet-induced obese mice by increasing endogenous GLP-1

BACKGROUND

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a whole millet grain that has been considered for improving the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism. The purpose of the work is to explore the extraction and enrichment of polyphenols from foxtail millets which can regulate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism by increasing endogenous GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).

RESULTS

The optimum ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of foxtail millet polyphenols (FMPs) was as follows: 70 °C and 400 W and 70% ethanol concentration, further purification using macroporous resin. In vitro, the FMP eluent of 60% ethanol (FMP-60) has the best effect in promoting GLP-1 secretion from L cells among the different active components of FMP. Millet polyphenols (MPs) were obtained from finishing foxtail millet with the bran removed by the same extraction and purification method. Compared with MP-60, FMP-60 mainly included eight active phenolic constituents and contained more ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, and coniferaldehyde. After gavage treatment of diet-induced obese (DIO) mice with FMP-60, FMP-60 promoted endogenous GLP-1 secretion in mice and ameliorated disorders of glucolipid metabolism in DIO mice.

CONCLUSION

FMP-60 could improve glucose homeostasis and ameliorates metabolic disease by promoting the endogenous GLP-1 level and preventing weight gain in DIO mice. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Managing Diabetes Mellitus With Millets: A New Solution

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and the disease's prevalence is increasing with each passing day. DM can be prevented and controlled with modifications to the diet, especially by incorporating millet in the diet. Throughout history, eating habits have been recognized for their significant contribution to promoting health and wellness by eating foods rich in nutrients. Millet is an underutilized food crop with many benefits for health, with the most beneficial being low glycemic index, high fiber content, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), non-acid-forming potential, and gluten-free. In addition to staple food crops, such as wheat, rice, and foxtail millet, millets are still highly nutritious and beneficial and have great potential to help the world combat the food insecurity many countries face today. Millets are in the top positions of recommended dietary charts with their numerous health benefits and antioxidant properties.

Comparison of the generation of α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides derived from prolamins of raw and cooked foxtail millet: In vitro activity, de novo sequencing, and in silico docking

Foxtail millet prolamin has been demonstrated to have anti-diabetic effects. In this study, we compared the generation of anti-α-glucosidase peptides derived from prolamins of raw and cooked foxtail millet (PRFM and PCFM). PRFM and PCFM hydrolysates (PRFMH and PCFMH) both exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. After ultrafiltration according to molecular weight (Mw), the fraction with Mw < 3 kDa in PCFMH (PCFMH_<3) showed higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than that in PRFMH (PRFMH_<3). The composition of α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides identified by de novo sequencing in PCFMH_<3 and PRFMH_<3 was compared by virtual screening, combining biological activity, net charge, grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY), and key hydrophobic amino acids (Met, Pro, Phe, and Leu). We found that the proportion of peptides with excellent α-glucosidase binding force in PCFMH_<3 was higher than in PRFMH_<3. Overall, cooking may positively affect the generation of peptides that perform well in inhibiting α-glucosidase derived from foxtail millet prolamin.

Heat-treated foxtail millet protein delayed the development of pre-diabetes to diabetes in mice by altering gut microbiota and metabolomic profiles

Millet protein has gained much attention for its beneficial effects in mitigating metabolic diseases. However, most individuals pass through a prediabetic phase before developing full-blown diabetes, and whether millet protein has hypoglycemic effects on prediabetic mice remains unclear. In the present study, heat-treated foxtail millet protein (HMP) supplementation significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels, alleviated insulin resistance, and improved impaired glucose tolerance in prediabetic mice. In addition, HMP altered the intestinal flora composition, as evidenced by the reduction in the abundance of Dubosiella and Marvinbryantia and the increase in the content of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and norank_f_Erysipelotrichaceae. Moreover, HMP supplementation dramatically regulated the levels of serum metabolites (i.e., LysoPCs, 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid, and sphingosine) and related metabolic pathways, such as sphingolipid metabolism and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. In conclusion, the improvement of gut microbiota and serum metabolic profiles was related to the hypoglycemic potential of HMP in prediabetes.

Health-Promoting Potential of Millet: A Review

Being a key source of animal food, millet production has been sharply increasing over the last few years in order to cope with the dietary requirements of the ever-increasing world population. It is a splendid source of essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins, and also some other bioactive compounds that eventually help through multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-cholesterol, anti-hypertensive, anthropometric effects and regulation of gut microbiota composition. These bioactive compounds, nutrients, and functions of cereal grains can be affected by processing techniques such as decortication, soaking, malting, milling, fermentation, etc. This study discusses the nutritional and functional properties of millet-incorporated foods and their impact on health, based on around 150 articles between 2015 and 2022 from the Web of Science, Google Scholar, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Breeding Bid Survey (BBS), and FoodData Central (USDA) databases. Analyzing literature reviews, it is evident that the incorporation of millet and its constituents into foodstuffs could be useful against undernourishment and several other health diseases. Additionally, this review provides crucial information about the beneficial features of millet, which can serve as a benchmark of guidelines for industry, consumers, researchers, and nutritionists.

Multi-omics intervention in Setaria to dissect climate-resilient traits: Progress and prospects

Millets constitute a significant proportion of underutilized grasses and are well known for their climate resilience as well as excellent nutritional profiles. Among millets, foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and its wild relative green foxtail (S. viridis) are collectively regarded as models for studying broad-spectrum traits, including abiotic stress tolerance, C₄ photosynthesis, biofuel, and nutritional traits. Since the genome sequence release, the crop has seen an exponential increase in omics studies to dissect agronomic, nutritional, biofuel, and climate-resilience traits. These studies have provided first-hand information on the structure, organization, evolution, and expression of several genes; however, knowledge of the precise roles of such genes and their products remains elusive. Several open-access databases have also been instituted to enable advanced scientific research on these important crops. In this context, the current review enumerates the contemporary trend of research on understanding the climate resilience and other essential traits in Setaria, the knowledge gap, and how the information could be translated for the crop improvement of related millets, biofuel crops, and cereals. Also, the review provides a roadmap for studying other underutilized crop species using Setaria as a model.

The Role of Amaranth, Quinoa, and Millets for the Development of Healthy, Sustainable Food Products-A Concise Review

The selection of sustainable crops adaptable to the rapidly changing environment, which also cater to the dietary needs of the growing population, is a primary challenge in meeting food security. Grains from ancient crops such as amaranth, quinoa, and millets are positioned to address this challenge and hence have gained dietary predominance among cereals and pseudocereals due to their nutritional value and energy efficiency. From a nutritional perspective, they are recognized for their complete protein, phenolic compounds and flavonoids, prebiotic fibers, and essential micronutrients, including minerals and vitamins. Bioactive peptides from their proteins have shown antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. The nutritional diversity of these grains makes them a preferred choice over traditional cereals for developing healthy, sustainable food products such as plant-based dairy, vegan meats, and gluten-free products. With growing consumer awareness about sustainability and health, the categories mentioned above are transitioning from ‘emerging’ to ‘mainstream’; however, there is still a significant need to include such healthy grains to fulfill the nutritional gap. This review article emphasizes the health benefits of amaranth, quinoa, and millet grains and discusses the recent research progress in understanding their application in new sustainable food categories. The challenges associated with their incorporation into novel foods and future research directions are also provided.

Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase 1 Catalyzes Lutein Degradation To Influence Carotenoid Accumulation and Color Development in Foxtail Millet Grains

Foxtail millet is a minor but economically important crop in certain regions of the world. Millet color is often used to judge grain quality, yet the molecular determinants of millet coloration remain unclear. Here, we explored the relationship between SiCCD1 and millet coloration in yellow and white millet varieties. Carotenoid levels declined with grain maturation and were negatively correlated with SiCCD1 expression, which was significantly higher in white millet as compared to yellow millet during the color development stage. Cloning of the SiCCD1 promoter and CDS sequences from these different millet varieties revealed the presence of two additional cis-regulatory elements within the SiCCD1 promoter in white millet varieties, including an enhancer-like GC motif element associated with anoxic specific inducibility and a GCN4-motif element associated with endosperm expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that SiCCD1 promoter fragments containing these additional cis-acting elements derived from white millet varieties were significantly more active than those from yellow millet varieties, consistent with the observed SiCCD1 expression patterns. Further in vitro enzyme detection assays confirmed that SiCCD1 primarily targets and degrades lutein. Together, these data suggest that SiCCD1 promoter variation was a key factor associated with the observed differences in SiCCD1 expression, which in turn led to the difference in millet coloration.

Modern Processing of Indian Millets: A Perspective on Changes in Nutritional Properties

Globally, billions of people are experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition. The United Nations has set a global target to end hunger by 2030, but we are far from reaching it. Over the decade, climate change, population growth and economic slowdown have impacted food security. Many countries are facing the challenge of both undernutrition and over nutrition. Thus, there is a need to transform the food system to achieve food and nutrition security. One of the ways to reach closer to our goal is to provide an affordable healthy and nutritious diet to all. Millets, the nutri-cereals, have the potential to play a crucial role in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. Nutri-cereals are an abundant source of essential macro- and micronutrients, carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, lipids, and phytochemicals. The nutrient content and digestibility of millets are significantly influenced by the processing techniques. This review article highlights the nutritional characteristics and processing of Indian millets, viz. foxtail, kodo, proso, little, and pearl millets. It also envisages the effect of traditional and modern processing techniques on millet’s nutritional properties. An extensive literature review was conducted using the research and review articles related to processing techniques of millets such as fermentation, germination, dehulling, extrusion, cooking, puffing, popping, malting, milling, etc. Germination and fermentation showed a positive improvement in the overall nutritional characteristics of millets, whereas excessive dehulling, polishing, and milling resulted in reduction of the dietary fiber and micronutrients. Understanding the changes happening in the nutrient value of millets due to processing can help the food industry, researchers, and consumers select a suitable processing technique to optimize the nutrient value, increase the bioavailability of nutrients, and help combat food and nutrition security.

Can Millet Consumption Help Manage Hyperlipidemia and Obesity?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Many health benefits of millets (defined broadly to also include sorghum) have been advocated, including their roles in managing and preventing diabetes; however, the effects of millets on hyperlipidemia (high lipid levels) have been underrecognized. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to collate available evidence of the impacts of millets consumption on lipid profile, namely total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). The results from 19 studies showed that the consumption of millets for periods as short as 21 days to 4 months reduced levels of TC, triacylglycerol, LDL-C, and VLDL-C (p<0.01) by 8.0, 9.5, 10 and 9.0%, respectively. Four studies demonstrated that millets consumption brought TC and triacylglycerol levels to the normal levels (<200 and <150 mg/dl, respectively). Furthermore, upon consumption of millet-based meals, there was a 6.0% increase in the HDL-C 4.0 and 5.0% reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and 7.0% reduction in body mass index (BMI). This evidence, leads us to conclude that consumption of millets reduces hyperlipidemia and hence hypertension, and raises the levels of HDL-C (good cholesterol), which can be beneficial for managing the associated risk of developing hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in future.

Systematic Review Registration: The protocol of this systematic review has been registered in the online registration platform called “research registry” with the unique identification number “reviewregistry1123.”

Dietary supplementation with mung bean coat alleviates the disorders in serum glucose and lipid profile and modulates gut microbiota in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced prediabetic mice

As amajor by-product of mung bean processing, mung bean coat (MBC), which is rich in polyphenols and dietary fiber, is deemed to be mainly responsible for the health benefits of mung bean. However, its beneficial effects on the hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and gut microbiota composition in prediabetic mice is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of MBC in alleviating high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced prediabetes. Herein, compared with the model control, dietary supplementation with MBC (3%, w/w) for 12 weeks significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose (24.60%), total cholesterol (15.72%), triglyceride (14.41%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (22.45%). Furthermore, the improvements in glucose tolerance were reflected in the reduction of the area under the curve (AUC) and incremental AUC by approximately 23.08% and 51.18%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal microbiota suggested that MBC promoted the enrichment of beneficial bacteria (Roseburia and Bifidobacterium) and the production of short-chain fatty acids. All of the results from this study provided a scientific reference for avoiding the functional ingredients waste of MBC and expanding its application value.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Potential of Millets for Managing and Reducing the Risk of Developing Diabetes Mellitus

Millets (including sorghum) are known to be highly nutritious besides having a low carbon footprint and the ability to survive in high temperatures with minimal water. Millets are widely recognised as having a low Glycaemic Index (GI) helping to manage diabetes. This systematic review and meta-analyzes across the different types of millets and different forms of processing/cooking collated all evidences. Of the 65 studies that were collected globally, 39 studies with 111 observations were used to analyze GI outcomes and 56 studies were used to analyze fasting, post-prandial glucose level, insulin index and HbA1c outcomes in a meta-analysis. It is evident from the descriptive statistics that the mean GI of millets is 52.7 ± 10.3, which is about 36% lower than in typical staples of milled rice (71.7 ± 14.4) and refined wheat (74.2 ± 14.9). The descriptive, meta and regression analyses revealed that Job's tears, fonio, foxtail, barnyard, and teff were the millets with low mean GI (<55) that are more effective (35–79%) in reducing dietary GI than the control samples. Millets with intermediate GI (55–69) are pearl millet, finger millet, kodo millet, little millet, and sorghum which have a 13–35% lower GI than the control with high GI (>69). A meta-analysis also showed that all millets had significantly (p < 0.01) lower GI than white rice, refined wheat, standard glucose or white wheat bread except little millet which had inconsistent data. Long term millet consumption lowered fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels significantly (p < 0.01) by 12 and 15%, respectively, in diabetic subjects. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c level (from 6.65 ± 0.4 to 5.67 ± 0.4%) among pre-diabetic individuals (p < 0.01) who consumed millets for a long period. Minimally processed millets were 30% more effective in lowering GI of a meal compared to milled rice and refined wheat. In conclusion, millets can be beneficial in managing and reducing the risk of developing diabetes and could therefore be used to design appropriate meals for diabetic and pre-diabetic subjects as well as for non-diabetic people for a preventive approach.

Germinated millet flour (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.) improves adipogenesis and glucose metabolism and maintains thyroid function in vivo

This study investigated the effects of germinated millet flour on adipogenesis, insulin resistance, glucose tolerance and thyroid function in Wistar rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF). The experiment was divided into two phases. Phase 1: control group, which received an AIN-93M diet (n = 10) and HFHF group (n = 20), which received a diet rich in saturated fat (31%) and fructose (20%), for eight weeks. Phase 2: intervention: the control group maintained the AIN-93M diet (n = 10) and the HFHF group was divided into two groups: the HFHF (n = 10) and the germinated millet group (n = 10), for 10 weeks. The germinated millet flour maintained (p > 0, 05) the plasma levels of thyroid hormones, increased (p < 0.05) the insulin receptor (INSR) mRNA expression, protein kinase B (AKT) mRNA expression and the phospho-AKT1 protein concentration, phosphofructokinase (PFK) mRNA, pyruvate kinase (PK) mRNA and activated protein kinase (AMPK) mRNA expression, and the brown adipose tissue and reduced (p < 0.05) the glucose triglyceride index (TyG), glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and hypercorticosteronemia, compared to the HFHF group. These effects contributed to reduce the gluconeogenesis, hyperinsulinemia and adiposity. Thus, germinated millet flour is a good alternative for modulating the adipogenesis and glucose metabolism, without interfering with the thyroid hormones, in rats with an insulin resistance condition with a high-fat high-fructose diet.

Foxtail Millet Improves Blood Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Rats through PI3K/AKT and NF-κB Signaling Pathways Mediated by Gut Microbiota

Foxtail millet (FM) is receiving ongoing increased attention due to its beneficial health effects, including the hypoglycemic effect. However, the underlying mechanisms of the hypoglycemic effect have been underexplored. In the present study, the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation was confirmed again in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with significantly decreased fasting glucose (FG), glycated serum protein, and areas under the glucose tolerance test (p < 0.05). We employed 16S rRNA and liver RNA sequencing technologies to identify the target gut microbes and signaling pathways involved in the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation. The results showed that FM supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus_2, which were significantly negatively correlated with FG and 2-h glucose. FM supplementation significantly reversed the trends of gene expression in diabetic rats. Specifically, FM supplementation inhibited gluconeogenesis, stimulated glycolysis, and restored fatty acid synthesis through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. FM also reduced inflammation through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated a complicated set of interdependencies among the gut microbiota, signaling pathways, and metabolic parameters. Collectively, the above results suggest that the hypoglycemic effect of FM was at least partially mediated by the increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus, activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Millet-based supplement restored gut microbial diversity of acute malnourished pigs

The tight association between malnutrition and gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis enables microbiota-targeting intervention to be a promising strategy. Thus, we used a malnourished pig model to investigate the host response and GM alterations under different diet supplementation strategies. Pigs at age of 4 weeks were fed with pure maize diet to induce malnutrition symptoms, and followed by continuous feeding with maize (Maize, n = 8) or re-feeding using either corn-soy-blend (CSB+, n = 10) or millet-soy-blend based (MSB+, n = 10) supplementary food for 3 weeks. Meanwhile, 8 pigs were fed on a standard formulated ration as control (Ref). The effect of nutritional supplementation was assessed by the growth status, blood chemistry, gastrointestinal pathology, mucosal microbiota composition and colon production of short-chain fatty acids. Compared with purely maize-fed pigs, both CSB+ and MSB+ elevated the concentrations of total protein and globulin in blood. These pigs still showed most malnutrition symptoms after the food intervention period. MSB+ had superior influence on the GM development, exhibiting better performance in both structural and functional aspects. MSB+ pigs were colonized by less Proteobacteria but more Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Lachnospira spp. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a strong correlation between the abundance of mucosal e.g., Faecalibacterium and Lachnospira spp. and body weight, crown-rump length and total serum protein. In conclusion, the malnutrition symptoms were accompanied by an aberrant GM, and millet-based nutritional supplementation showed promising potentials to restore the reduced GM diversity implicated in pig malnutrition.

A comparison between whole mung bean and decorticated mung bean: beneficial effects on the regulation of serum glucose and lipid disorders and the gut microbiota in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced prediabetic mice

The aim of this study is to investigate the beneficial effects of whole mung bean (WMB) and decorticated mung bean (DMB) on the regulation of serum glucose and lipid disorders in high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced prediabetic mice, and to further explore their gut microbiota modulatory effects. In the present study, the ability of mung bean-based diets to combat prediabetes-related metabolic disorders was determined by assessing the changes in the physiological, biochemical, and histological parameters, and the gut microbiota composition of prediabetic mice. The supplementation of both WMB and DMB can effectively alleviate HFD and STZ-induced impaired glucose tolerance (P < 0.05), which was accompanied by improvements in pancreatic β-cell damage and hepatic steatosis. However, only WMB supplementation significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose and fasting serum insulin levels by sensitizing insulin action (P < 0.05), and reduced the serum lipid profiles and glycosylated serum protein levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, high-throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that WMB and DMB supplementation could prevent HFD and STZ-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, especially for the enrichment of some benign bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia, and the reduction of some harmful bacteria (Staphylococcus and Enterococcus). Overall, although decortication processing had an impact on the beneficial effects of mung bean, it did not cause the loss of all health benefits.

Protein Isolates from Raw and Cooked Foxtail Millet Attenuate Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

SCOPE

Millet protein has received much attention due to its beneficial role in alleviating metabolic disease symptoms. This study aims to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of foxtail millet protein isolates, including protein isolates from raw and cooked foxtail millet in alleviating diabetes, including gut microbiota and intracellular signal pathways.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Protein isolates from raw and cooked foxtail millet are orally administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice for 5 weeks before hypoglycemic effect evaluation. The results show that foxtail millet protein isolates improve glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in diabetic mice. However, only the protein isolate from cooked foxtail millet reverse the weight loss trend and alleviate lipid disorders in diabetic mice. Besides, 16S rRNA sequencing show that both raw and cooked foxtail millet protein isolates altered diabetes-induced gut dysbiosis. In addition, western blotting analysis indicated that the protein isolate from cooked foxtail millet increases the expression levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and phosphoinositide-protein kinase B (p-AKT)/AKT while the protein isolate from raw foxtail millet downregulates stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) level.

CONCLUSION

Both raw and cooked foxtail millet protein isolates can exert hypoglycemic effects in diabetic mice through rewiring glucose homeostasis, mitigating diabetes-induced gut dysbiosis, and affecting the GLP-1R/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Foxtail millet: a potential crop to meet future demand scenario for alternative sustainable protein

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), an annual grass plant, produces seeds that possess health-promoting properties owing to its unique protein composition containing a high content of essential amino acids. The mature foxtail seeds mainly consist of proline-rich, alcohol-soluble proteins (prolamin) called setarins, comprising about 60% of the total protein, with less content of disulfide cross-linked proteins than with other cereal and millets. Protein fractionation schemes are an important tool and provide preliminary information on the nature of foxtail proteins for their applications in the field of agriculture, food pharma, and bio-based materials. Variation in the methods of preparation can influence the composition, structure, and nutritional quality of the protein concentrate. Moreover, foxtail protein or its hydrolysate has shown several bioactive effects that can be explored further for the management of chronic diseases in humans. Additionally, owing to its low cost and excellent functional properties of flour and protein concentrate, foxtail millet can be considered as good candidate for replacing animal protein foods. Furthermore, there is huge potential for successfully developing low-cost, protein-rich functional food products helpful in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related chronic diseases. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Prolamin from Cooked Foxtail Millet (Setaria italic) on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Millet proteins have been demonstrated to possess glucose-lowering and lipid metabolic disorder modulation functions against diabetes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of prolamin from cooked foxtail millet (PCFM) on type 2 diabetic mice, and explore the gut microbiota and serum metabolic profile changes that are associated with diabetes attenuation by PCFM. Our diabetes model was established using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin before PCFM or saline was daily administrated by gavage for 5 weeks. The results showed that PCFM ameliorated glucose metabolism disorders associated with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the effects of PCFM administration on gut microbiota and serum metabolome were investigated. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that PCFM alleviated diabetes-related gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice. Additionally, the serum metabolomics analysis revealed that the metabolite levels disturbed by diabetes were partly altered by PCFM. Notably, the decreased D-Glucose level caused by PCFM suggested that its anti-diabetic potential can be associated with the activation of glycolysis and the inhibition of gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism and galactose metabolism. In addition, the increased serotonin level caused by PCFM may stimulate insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, which contributed to its hypoglycemic effect. Taken together, our research demonstrated that the modulation of gut microbiota composition and the serum metabolomics profile was associated with the anti-diabetic effect of PCFM.

Nutritional Strategies in Prediabetes: A Scoping Review of Recent Evidence

Nutritional therapy has been conventionally recommended for people with prediabetes as a method to delay or halt progression to type 2 diabetes. However, recommended nutritional strategies evolve over time. Hence, we performed a scoping review on recently reported nutritional interventions for individuals with prediabetes. Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were searched to identify relevant research articles published within the past 10 years. Ninety-five articles involving a total of 11,211 participants were included in this review. Nutritional strategies were broadly classified into four groups: low calorie diet, low glycemic index diet, specific foods, and a combination of diet and exercise. The most frequently assessed outcomes were plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum lipid profile, body mass index and body weight. More than 50% of reported interventions resulted in significant improvements in these parameters. Nutritional interventions have demonstrated feasibility and practicality as an effective option for prediabetes management. However, the intervention variability demonstrates the challenges of a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Investigations in genetically diverse populations and objective assessment of progression rate to diabetes are necessary to better comprehend the impact of these nutritional strategies in prediabetes.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Up-Regulation by the Methanol Extract of Foxtail Millet in Human Peripheral Cells

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important roles in synaptic plasticity and neuronal differentiation. The neurotrophic hypothesis of depression, which suggests that reduced BDNF in the hippocampus underlies depression, has attracted increasing attention. Stress, a major cause of depression, leads to decreased BDNF levels, and administration of BDNF into the hippocampus shows an antidepressant effect. BDNF is synthesized in peripheral tissues as well as in the brain. Since BDNF crosses the blood-brain barrier, intake of food ingredients that elevate BDNF in peripheral tissues may be useful for the prevention and treatment of depression. However, no screening method for BDNF up-regulators in peripheral tissues has been reported. In this study, we revealed that ACHN human kidney adenocarcinoma cells secreted BDNF. In addition, we demonstrated that the methanol extract of foxtail millet up-regulated BDNF levels in ACHN cells. Our results indicate that ACHN cells could be useful in the screening for peripheral-BDNF up-regulators, and that foxtail millet may have the potential to elevate BDNF levels in peripheral tissues.

The gastroprotective effect of the foxtail millet and adlay processing product against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) and adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf.) seeds have substantial benefits possesses remarkable edible and nutritive values, and ease of processing and food manufacturing. They have nutraceutical properties in the form of antioxidants which prevent deterioration of human health and have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for many diseases. The present study is designed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of foxtail millet and adlay processing product (APP) diet on water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) induced ulceration in rats. We examined the effects of intake of AIN-93G diet containing either foxtail millet (10, 20 and 40%, 4 weeks) or APP (15 and 30%, 5 weeks) on macroscopic ulcer index (UI), plasma calcium level, lipid peroxidation products (estimated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBARS), non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH), digestive enzyme activities, and histopathology were determined. The results showed that pretreatment with millet and adlay diets significantly prevented the gastric mucosal lesion development. In addition, ulcerated rats showed depletion of NPSH levels whereas treatment with millet and adlay reverted this decline in stress-induced rats. Histological studies confirmed the results. The finding suggests that millet and adlay diets promote ulcer protection by the decrease in ulcer index, TBARS values and increase NPSH concentrations. Millet and adlay diets retain the advantage of being a natural product which may protect the gastric mucosa against ulceration.

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Millet and adlay exerted the anti-ulcer response and extensive antioxidant effect.

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They promote ulcer protection by the decrease in ulcer index and TBARS values.

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Also, millet and adlay diets increased NPSH concentrations in stressed rats.

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Foxtail millet and adlay diets prove a promising protective role in gastric ulcer.

Anti-Diabetic Effects and Mechanisms of Dietary Polysaccharides

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial, heterogeneous metabolic disorder, causing various health complications and economic issues, which apparently impacts the human's life. Currently, commercial diabetic drugs are clinically managed for diabetic treatment that has definite side effects. Dietary polysaccharides mainly derive from natural sources, including medicinal plants, grains, fruits, vegetables, edible mushroom, and medicinal foods, and possess anti-diabetic potential. Hence, this review summarizes the effects of dietary polysaccharides on diabetes and underlying molecular mechanisms related to inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and diabetes in various animal models. The analysis of literature and appropriate data on anti-diabetic polysaccharide from electronic databases was conducted. In vivo and in vitro trials have revealed that treatment of these polysaccharides has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, which enhance pancreatic β-cell mass and alleviates β-cell dysfunction. It enhances insulin signaling pathways through insulin receptors and activates the PI3K/Akt pathway, and eventually modulates ERK/JNK/MAPK pathway. In conclusion, dietary polysaccharides can effectively ameliorate hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and, thus, consumption of polysaccharides can be a valuable choice for diabetic control.