<em>Diospyros melanoxylon</em> (Roxb.): A tribal fruit that maintains euglycemic state after consumption and cools oxidative stress

Abstract

Tendu, <em>Diospyros melanoxylon</em> Roxb. (Family: Ebenaceae) fruit is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. The ripe fruit of tendu is eaten by tribal people. Both, unripe, as well as ripe fruits, have been used in folk-medicine by tribal communities. Aqueous methanol extract of unripe fruit displayed potent free radicals scavenging properties and also mitigated free radicals induced DNA damage. Furthermore, this extract also alleviated the development of oxidative stress induced due to a hyper physiological concentration of H₂O₂ and glucose in NIH 3T3 cells. FACS analysis revealed that extracts significantly (<em>p</em> <0.001) prevented the build-up of reactive oxygen species in NIH 3T3 cells generated due to a hyper physiological concentration of H₂O₂. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins were present in unripe fruit were observed radically decreased when the fruit ripened. Presence of pancreatic α-amylase, intestinal α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities in fruit extracts were also recorded. Postprandial glycemic excursion of unripe as well as ripe fruits pulp were significantly (<em>p</em> <0.05) less than that induced due to oral sucrose administration. Results suggest for the first time that fruit of <em>D. melanoxylon</em> may become an economic beverage fully equipped to counter free radicals and resultant oxidative stress. Furthermore, fruit may serve as a true euglycemic sweetener against sucrose.