49
for prolonged periods of time increases the chances of developing this disease
(Roberfroid 2005; Mauro et al. 2013). RS is potential prebiotic agent because it acts
as a substrate for growth and development of colonic microbiota (Haralampu 2000).
It undergoes fermentation in the large intestine and leads to the production of shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate and also decreases
colon pH (Englyst et al. 1992). As butyrate is one of the main energy substrates for
large intestinal epithelial cells and inhibits the malignant transformation of such
cells in vitro; this makes easily fermentable RS fractions especially interesting in
preventing colonic cancer (Asp and Bjorck 1992). As observed in the various studies, the butyrates can have an inhibitory effect on the growth and proliferation of
tumor cells in vitro by arresting initiation, progression, and growth of colon tumors
(Sharma et al. 2008).
Hypoglycemic Properties
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is now emerging as a global public health disorder and is
spreading like an epidemic all over the world. Data has shown the prevalence of
diabetes for different age groups from 2.8% in 2000 to double with expected
increase up to almost 4.4%, i.e. 366 million by the end of 2030 (Wild et al. 2004).
At global level round about 425 million people suffer from diabetes with an incidence of one in every eleventh individual however this figure is very well expected
to surpass 642 million mark by the end of 2040. DM as such has engulfed the general populace of whole world but the situation in developing countries like India that
contains world’s largest diabetic population is totally grim. In due course of time
many drugs have been developed to treat and control diabetes including biguanides,
sulfonyl ureas and glucosidase inhibitors which ultimately at the end use, result in
side effects like liver and kidney dysfunction as well as hypoglycemia (Posuwan
et al. 2013). Therefore prevention being better than cure ultimately relies on to
devise the approach to focus on how to thwart diabetes on roots rather than to cure.
Obesity, one of the most prevalent and chronic metabolic disorder in the world is
induced mainly due to energy imbalance. Today at about 60% of the global population with type 2 diabetes are suffering from obesity in south Asian regions. Obesity,
considered as the mother of diseases leads a raised fasting glucose level associated
with hyperglycemia as well as markedly dilated adipose tissues, insulin resistance,
higher amount of insulin in blood circulation (hyperinsulinemia), higher cholesterol
in circulating fluids (dyslipedemia) plus hypertension that enhance the incidence of
cardiovascular diseases(Cornier et al. 2008). About 80% of the population with DM
type 2 also suffer from obesity leading to gain of excessive weight (20-30 %), fatty
liver and other related complications that enhance mortality rate to almost three
folds (Maggio and Pi-Sunyer 2003). Resistant and slowly digestible starch has
shown an inverse relationship with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Chandalia
et al. 2000). The inherent property of resistant starch to undergo slow and steady
digestion implies for its applications in controlled glucose release responses(Sajilata
Neutraceutical Properties of Resistant Starch
for prolonged periods of time increases the chances of developing this disease
(Roberfroid 2005; Mauro et al. 2013). RS is potential prebiotic agent because it acts
as a substrate for growth and development of colonic microbiota (Haralampu 2000).
It undergoes fermentation in the large intestine and leads to the production of shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate and also decreases
colon pH (Englyst et al. 1992). As butyrate is one of the main energy substrates for
large intestinal epithelial cells and inhibits the malignant transformation of such
cells in vitro; this makes easily fermentable RS fractions especially interesting in
preventing colonic cancer (Asp and Bjorck 1992). As observed in the various studies, the butyrates can have an inhibitory effect on the growth and proliferation of
tumor cells in vitro by arresting initiation, progression, and growth of colon tumors
(Sharma et al. 2008).
Hypoglycemic Properties
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is now emerging as a global public health disorder and is
spreading like an epidemic all over the world. Data has shown the prevalence of
diabetes for different age groups from 2.8% in 2000 to double with expected
increase up to almost 4.4%, i.e. 366 million by the end of 2030 (Wild et al. 2004).
At global level round about 425 million people suffer from diabetes with an incidence of one in every eleventh individual however this figure is very well expected
to surpass 642 million mark by the end of 2040. DM as such has engulfed the general populace of whole world but the situation in developing countries like India that
contains world’s largest diabetic population is totally grim. In due course of time
many drugs have been developed to treat and control diabetes including biguanides,
sulfonyl ureas and glucosidase inhibitors which ultimately at the end use, result in
side effects like liver and kidney dysfunction as well as hypoglycemia (Posuwan
et al. 2013). Therefore prevention being better than cure ultimately relies on to
devise the approach to focus on how to thwart diabetes on roots rather than to cure.
Obesity, one of the most prevalent and chronic metabolic disorder in the world is
induced mainly due to energy imbalance. Today at about 60% of the global population with type 2 diabetes are suffering from obesity in south Asian regions. Obesity,
considered as the mother of diseases leads a raised fasting glucose level associated
with hyperglycemia as well as markedly dilated adipose tissues, insulin resistance,
higher amount of insulin in blood circulation (hyperinsulinemia), higher cholesterol
in circulating fluids (dyslipedemia) plus hypertension that enhance the incidence of
cardiovascular diseases(Cornier et al. 2008). About 80% of the population with DM
type 2 also suffer from obesity leading to gain of excessive weight (20-30 %), fatty
liver and other related complications that enhance mortality rate to almost three
folds (Maggio and Pi-Sunyer 2003). Resistant and slowly digestible starch has
shown an inverse relationship with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Chandalia
et al. 2000). The inherent property of resistant starch to undergo slow and steady
digestion implies for its applications in controlled glucose release responses(Sajilata
Neutraceutical Properties of Resistant Starch