Natalia Desy Putriningtyas, Widya Hary Cahyati, Refani Alycia Kusuma, Kartika Nugraheni, Alfiana Ainun Nisa

A New Opportunity Related Hypercholesterolemic and the Improvement of Glucose Levels, Lipid Profiles, and Microbial Activity: Red Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Peel Yogurt and Animal Study

Introduction

A new opportunity related hypercholesterolemic and the improvement of glucose levels, lipid profiles, and microbial activity: red dragon fruit (hylocereus polyrhizus) peel yogurt and animal study. Red dragon fruit peel yogurt effectively improves glucose levels and lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic Wistar rats. A new, natural opportunity for managing cholesterol & NCDs.

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths and 29.7 million disability problems.The incidence of Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as coronary heart disease (CHD), type2 diabetes, and some types of cancer can be involved with hypercholesterolemiaed. Red dragonfruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel contains total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and dietary fiber.Red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel, which was originally considered as trash can beused to produce yogurt. This study aimed to analyse the effect of red dragon fruit (Hylocereuspolyrhizus) peel yogurt on levels of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and microbial activity inhypercholesterolemic Wistar rats. This was an experimental- research with pre and post-test control group design. A total of 25 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups randomly. Hypercholesterolemic conditions in the Wistar rats were obtained from consuming solution consisted of 1% of cholesterol powder and 0.5% of cholic acid for 14 days. Each Wistar rats received 20 g/day standard feed. The grouping were Group 1 (negative control group); Group 2 (hypercholesterolemic group); Group 3 (1.8 ml/kg b.wt/day of dragon fruit peel yogurt); Group 4 (2.7 ml/kg b.wt/day of dragon fruit peel yogurt); Group 5 (3.6 ml/kg b.wt/day of dragon fruit peel yogurt). The intervention was performed for 28 days. Blood glucose levels and lipid profiles weremeasured before and after the intervention. Blood glucose, lipid profiles and microbial activity weremeasured using GOD-PAP, automatic biochemistry analyser and pour plate method respectively.Data were analysed using paired t test and one-way ANOVA. Blood glucose, TC, LDL-C, TGlevels were decreased, and the other side HDL-C was increased significantly in the Group dragonfruit peel. There was no difference in the total number of microbes in all groups. Dragon fruit peelyogurt is effective in improving glucose levels and lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic Wistar rats.

Review

The paper, "A New Opportunity Related Hypercholesterolemic and the Improvement of Glucose Levels, Lipid Profiles, and Microbial Activity: Red Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Peel Yogurt and Animal Study," addresses a critical global health issue: hypercholesterolemia and its strong link to non-communicable diseases. The authors present an innovative approach by transforming red dragon fruit peel, typically discarded as waste, into a functional yogurt. This valorization of agricultural by-product is particularly appealing due to the peel's rich composition of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and dietary fiber, all of which are known for their potential health benefits. The premise of utilizing sustainable resources to develop a therapeutic food offers a promising and environmentally conscious strategy for managing widespread metabolic disorders. The study employed a controlled experimental design, utilizing 25 male Wistar rats, where hypercholesterolemia was induced for 14 days, followed by a 28-day intervention. Rats were divided into five groups, receiving varying doses of red dragon fruit peel yogurt (1.8, 2.7, and 3.6 ml/kg b.wt/day), alongside negative and hypercholesterolemic control groups. Key parameters such as fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles (TC, LDL-C, TG, HDL-C), and microbial activity were rigorously measured before and after the intervention. The results unequivocally demonstrated significant improvements in the yogurt-treated groups, with marked decreases in blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, coupled with a significant increase in HDL-C. This robust finding highlights the yogurt's potential to positively impact key markers of metabolic health. Interestingly, no significant difference was observed in the total number of microbes across all groups, which is an important nuance in the findings. While the study effectively demonstrates the efficacy of red dragon fruit peel yogurt in improving glucose and lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats, there are areas for further refinement. The assessment of "microbial activity" by measuring the "total number of microbes" using the pour plate method provides limited insight into the complex changes within the gut microbiota. A more detailed analysis, perhaps utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, would be invaluable to elucidate specific shifts in bacterial composition, diversity, and their potential mechanistic roles in the observed metabolic improvements. Future research could also benefit from exploring the dose-response relationship more explicitly, comparing the yogurt's efficacy against established therapeutic agents, and investigating underlying molecular mechanisms. Despite these considerations, this study provides a strong foundation for developing value-added products from agricultural waste, paving the way for potential clinical trials and contributing to sustainable functional food development.

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