galactomannan and Hyperlipidemias

Dietary fiber from fenugreek blunts glucose and cholesterol after a meal and regulates the production of cholesterol in the liver. The mechanisms for these effects have not been fully elucidated. Fenugreek seeds contain 45.4% dietary fiber (32% insoluble and 13.3% soluble), and the gum is composed of galactose and mannose. The latter compounds are associated with reduced glycemia and cholesterolemia. Fenugreek's hypoglycemic effect has been especially documented in humans and animals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, this dietary fiber has potential for widespread use in the food industry because its galactomannan composition has emulsifying and stabilizing properties. Flour supplemented with 8%-10% fenugreek dietary fiber has been used in the production of baked goods such as bread, pizza, muffins, and cakes. This application to flour allows for the production of functional foods that may be widely acceptable to consumers observing western diets.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Dietary Fiber; Dietary Supplements; Functional Food; Galactose; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hypoglycemic Agents; Mannans; Models, Animal; Plant Extracts; Trigonella

Galactomannan currently seems to be a very promising auxiliary. The aim of the present work was to examine the applicability of this auxiliary in tablet-making. Galactomannan is a polysaccharide composed of galactose and mannose, which is distributed by the Swiss firm Meyhall under the name Meyprogat. The products are numbered according to their molecular weight and polymeric degree. Thus, Meyprogat 7, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 can be discriminated. It is used in many areas, for example in the food industry as a stabilizing agent, and in medical therapy to cure diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. In pharmaceutical technology, it is used in low concentration (5-10%) as a disintegrant agent and in high concentration (25%) as binding agent. It is able to form a hydrophilic matrix, which results in sustained release. Theophylline was chosen as model agent. After the preformulation examinations, granulations were made by a wet method, and after this tablets were formed. Examinations were made of the granulations, the physical parameters of the tablets were determined, and the release of the effective agent from the tablets was studied. The following conclusions were drawn: 1. Galactomannan yields tablets with very good hardness. 2. Galactomannan is suitable for the formation of hydrophilic matrix tablets. Through use of this macromolecular agent, the rate of dissolution can be influenced in accordance with the desired purpose.

Topics: Carbohydrate Conformation; Carbohydrate Sequence; Diabetes Mellitus; Galactose; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Mannans; Molecular Sequence Data; Tablets