Spray Drying of Fruits Juice Formulations of Ananas cosmosus L. and Balanites aegyptiaca: Antihyperglycemic Activity

Background: Balanites aegyptiaca is commonly used in folk medicine as antihyperglycemic agent.

Objective: Fruit juices from pineapple (Ananas cosmosus L), Balanites aegyptiaca and a blend after being encapsulated by spray dried with 10% maltodextrin, were examined for their physicochemical and antihyperglycemic properties.

Methods: Three different juice powders had been produced using spray dryer. The antihyperglycemic activity in glucose overloaded hyperglycemic rats has been evaluated.

Results: The juice powders had moisture contents ranging from 2.96 to 3.73% (dry basis). The fruit juice powders hygroscopicity varied between 14.44 and 15.38 g/100 g of juice powder samples. There were notable differences in the antihyperglycemic effects of the spray-dried juice samples on Wistar rats. Blood sugar levels were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the Wistar rats batch administered with reconstituted Balanites juice and glibenclamide at T90min compared to the Normal control batch (4.77% and 29.44% respectively). Comparing the blood sugar levels of positive control (CP), Balanites, and Pineapple + Balanites animals to those of negative control (Cneg) animals and animals given pineapple juice, a substantial (P<0.05) decrease was noted.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that encapsulation by spray drying of pineapple juice with Balanites aegyptiaca fruits can be encouraged to be processed by fruit processing industries because the resulting juice powders have good antihyperglycemic properties.