Role of buckwheat diet on rats as prebiotic and healthy food

Abstract

The objective of this research is to assess if the buckwheat (BW) could behaves as a prebiotic and be considered as healthy food. Buckwheat is a nutritional food, rich in essential aminoacids, fatty acids, vitamins B1 and B2 and also a good source of minerals, which may produce beneficial effects on health. For our investigation, a total of twenty, 12-week-old Wistar Hannover rats was used and the animals were fed for 30 days. The body-weight was lower in the BW diet than control with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were found in the weight of the organs (liver, spleen, kidney and heart). Microbial analysis and detection were carded out on Enterobacteria, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacilus and Bifidobacteria in the rat's intestine. The results showed an increase of aerobic mesophilic and lactic acid bacteria content in the BW diet when compared to control, with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05). In the BW diet, we also observed a slight decrease of Enterobectaria and less pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius and Bifidobacterium infantis were found in both diets, but only Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium spp and Bifidobacterium lactis were found in addition in the buckwheat diet. All these results confirm that BW could possibly be considered as a prebiotic product. Glucose content was measured in the blood. Uric acid, total protein, HDL and LDL lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase and mineral content were also measured in the serum. The glucose and uric acid content were similar in both diets and no significant differences were observed for the total proteins, albumin and mineral content. The alkaline phosphatase decreased in the BW diet, but no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) was found when compared to control. Buckwheat could as well be considered as a healthy food due to the diminution on total cholesterol with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) when compared to control.