1Department of Nutrition and Health, G.D. Goenka University, Gurugram-122 103, Haryana, India
2Department of Pharmacy, School of Healthcare and Allied Sciences, GD Goenka University, Gurugram-122 103, Haryana, India
*Corresponding Author: Nidhi Chauhan, Department of Nutrition and Health, G.D. Goenka University, Gurugram-122 103, Haryana, India, Email: chauhan.dnidhi@gmail.com
Online Published on 10 March, 2026.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, which is often accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. The inclusion of functional foods enriched with bioactive compounds may offer additional therapeutic benefits in managing the condition. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chickpea- and wheat-based cookies, enriched with Myo-inositol (MI) and D-Chiro-inositol (DCI), on parameters such as glycaemic regulation, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
Diabetic Wistar rats (n=6/group) were divided into six groups: Control, disease control, wheat, wheat+MI+DCI and chickpea-wheat+MI+DCI. Blood sugar levels, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin and results from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), were evaluated. Oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), Food consumption and body mass were also evaluated.
Diabetic controls showed elevated FBG, HbA1c, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines (p<0.05). Wheat-based cookies produced negligible effects. Chickpea-wheat cookies moderately improved glycemic indices, while inositol-enriched wheat cookies enhanced insulin sensitivity. The combined formulation (chickpea-wheat+MI+DCI) yielded the greatest benefits, with near-normal FBG (105.1 mg/dL), reduced HbA1c (7.93%), improved OGTT, elevated SOD, reduced MDA and significantly lower IL-6 and TNF-α (p<0.01). This group also demonstrated improved weight recovery and reduced polyphagia. Cookies incorporating chickpea flour, wheat and inositols demonstrate synergistic effects in mitigating diabetes, oxidative stress and inflammation in STZ-induced rat models. These findings indicate their possible application as functional dietary components for diabetes management.
Chickpea, Diabetes mellitus, Functional foods, Glycemic control, Inositol, Oxidative stress
