(P31-072-23) Antidiabetic Supplementation of Papaya Leaf Juice in High Fat/ High Sugar-Induced Obese and Prediabetic Adult Mice

Objectives: Prediabetes refers to an intermediate level of hyperglycemia not diagnosed as diabetes but predisposes one to develop asymptomatic conditions several years before full-blown diabetic symptoms. Elevated fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and obesity are among the common symptoms of prediabetes. There has seen a tremendous increase in dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals in preventing prediabetes. Natural products such as tea, herbs, seaweeds, and papaya leaves contain fatty acids, vitamins, fiber, and minerals as well as phytochemicals such as terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids, which provide beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolisms. The objective is to investigate the effects of papaya leaf juice on blood glucose homeostasis in high-fat/high-sugar (HFHS)-induced hyperglycemia and obesity in adult mice.

Methods: Adult mice at age of 12-13 months (n=20) were used for the trial. Initial fasting glucose of the mice are normal before the trial, mice were fed 65% high-fat pellets with drinking water consisting of 42 g/L of cane sugar and fructose (1:1) for 120 days. Weight, glucose and lipid were recorded weekly. Mice were switched to rodent chow (10% fat) restricted to 4-5g feed /25 body wt /day, and 3g/100mL blended fresh papaya leaf juice for 30 days.

Results: HFHS group increased weight from 32.5 ±1.6 to 50.3±4.1g after 120 days. Fasting glucose levels were hyperglycemic for the HFHS group (192.7±10.1 mg/dL) with reduced insulin sensitivity. Combined papaya leaf juice with a restricted diet significantly reduced the body weight and fasting blood glucose levels to 43.75±1.4 g and 126.25±3.2 mg/dl, respectively. Papaya leaf juice and restricted diet-treated group showed significant improvements in blood cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels from 204, 110.4, and 93.7 mg/dL to 150, 50, and 60 mg/dL, respectively. There are some effects of the restricted diet alone on weight loss and glucose.

Conclusions: Papaya leaf extract, combined with diet restriction, successfully normalized blood glucose levels, exhibiting anti-diabetic effects in prediabetic mice. Papaya leaf extract can augment antidiabetic effects when complemented with diet restrictions.

Funding Sources: USDA multi-state Hatch project and USDA-ARS