Beilschmiedia obscura seeds powder: Potential functional food ingredient for glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus

Authors

  • Florine Mbappé Essouman Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8409-1557
  • Ferdinand Lanvin Ebouel Edoun Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9211-7622
  • Nyemb Nyunaï Centre for Research on Health and Priority Pathologies, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Nadine Ndoe Essola Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • Sandra Leila Nnanga Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Pauline Vervaine Hagbe Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5493-8266
  • Fils Armand Ella Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3924-5916
  • Nguemto Guy Roussel Takuissu Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7478-4165
  • Inocent Gouado Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box Cameroon Douala, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0817-5142
  • Judith Laure Ngondi Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4625-6111

Abstract

Beilschmiedia obscura seeds are used as dietary enhancers in some Cameroonian traditional dishes. They have preventive effects against metabolic disorders, but their potential effects in diabetes management have not yet been studied. This study therefore aims to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Beilschmiedia obscura seed powder as a novel local therapeutic resource. Diabetes was induced in rats using streptozotocin, and the diabetic rats were treated with a diet supplemented with 10% B. obscura seed powder for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose were assessed weekly. Additionally, oral glucose, sucrose, or starch tolerance tests were conducted in normoglycemic rats. Finally, in vitro study to investigate glucose adsorption capacity, and glucose uptake in non-insulin-dependent cells (yeast) and insulin-dependent cells (skeletal muscle cells) was carried out. B. obscura seed powder significantly decrease glycemia of diabetic rats (81.71% of the initial value at 14th day). It significantly restored hepatic glycogen levels in diabetic rats. Additionally, B. obscura seeds powder significantly reduced glycemic peak (about 2-fold) compared to normal control following oral glucose, sucrose, and starch administration. In vitro, B. obscura seeds powder showed the ability to scavenge glucose (up to 48.27% at 10mg/mL) and to stimulate glucose uptake both into non-insulin-dependent cells (up to 25.45% at 10mg/mL) and insulin-dependent cells (up to 35.40% at 7.5mg/mL). These findings suggest that B. obscura seeds powder has multifaceted actions in modulating blood glucose, which position it as a promising plant-based intervention for glycemic control, especially in resource-limited settings where affordable natural therapies are critically needed.

Keywords: B. obscura powder seeds, Diabetes, Post-prandial hyperglycemia, fasting hyperglycemia, glucose-lowering mechanisms

Keywords:

B. obscura powder seeds, Diabetes, Post-prandial hyperglycemia, fasting hyperglycemia, glucose-lowering mechanisms

DOI

https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i7.7853

Author Biographies

Florine Mbappé Essouman , Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Ferdinand Lanvin Ebouel Edoun , Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Nyemb Nyunaï , Centre for Research on Health and Priority Pathologies, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Centre for Research on Health and Priority Pathologies, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nadine Ndoe Essola , Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Sandra Leila Nnanga , Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

 

Pauline Vervaine Hagbe , Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

 

Fils Armand Ella , Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Nguemto Guy Roussel Takuissu , Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal plant studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 

Inocent Gouado , Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box Cameroon Douala, Cameroon.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box Cameroon Douala, Cameroon.

Judith Laure Ngondi , Center of Nutrition and Functional Foods, P.O. Box 8024 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.

 

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Published

2026-07-15
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How to Cite

1.
Essouman FM, Edoun FLE, Nyunaï N, Essola NN, Nnanga SL, Hagbe PV, et al. Beilschmiedia obscura seeds powder: Potential functional food ingredient for glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 15 [cited 2026 Jul. 16];16(7):78-87. Available from: https://www.jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/7853

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 7 (2026): Volume 16, Issue 7, July 2026

Section

Research

Copyright (c) 2026 Florine Mbappé Essouman , Ferdinand Lanvin Ebouel Edoun , Nyemb Nyunaï , Nadine Ndoe Essola , Sandra Leila Nnanga , Pauline Vervaine Hagbe , Fils Armand Ella , Nguemto Guy Roussel Takuissu , Inocent Gouado , Judith Laure Ngondi

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How to Cite

1.
Essouman FM, Edoun FLE, Nyunaï N, Essola NN, Nnanga SL, Hagbe PV, et al. Beilschmiedia obscura seeds powder: Potential functional food ingredient for glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 15 [cited 2026 Jul. 16];16(7):78-87. Available from: https://www.jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/7853
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