Papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar and a preparation method thereof, belonging to the technical field of plant extracts. The preparation method of the papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar of the present invention comprises the following steps: mixing papaya with an alkaline solution, adding a stabilizer, performing alkaline extraction, filtering, obtaining a filter residue and a filtrate; purifying the filtrate to obtain a precursor A; performing an enzymatic hydrolysis treatment on the filter residue, filtering to obtain a filtrate, performing an alcohol precipitation treatment, and then collecting the precipitate to obtain a precursor B; combining the precursor A and the precursor B to obtain the papaya extract. The papaya extract prepared by the present invention has a significant effect in assisting in lowering blood sugar, has no side effects on the human body, has a long-lasting efficacy, and has a simple and convenient preparation process. It has good application value and provides strong support for the development of hypoglycemic drugs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of plant extracts, in particular to a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar and a preparation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the accelerated pace of modern life and changes in dietary patterns, diabetes and its complications have become a serious public health problem worldwide, making the development of hypoglycemic drugs and treatments particularly important. Synthetic hypoglycemic drugs play an important role in diabetes treatment, but they also have some drawbacks. They can only control blood sugar, not cure diabetes. Diabetic patients typically require lifelong hypoglycemic medication to control their blood sugar, which not only leads to drug dependence but also causes irreversible damage to the liver and kidneys, and can also lead to drug resistance in the later stages of treatment. In recent years, natural plant extracts have garnered widespread attention in the field of hypoglycemic treatment due to their minimal side effects and wide availability. Papaya, a nutritious fruit that serves both medicinal and edible uses, is gradually being explored for its potential in lowering blood sugar.

[0003] Papaya, a plant of the genus Chaenomeles in the Rosaceae family, contains numerous ingredients beneficial to human health. Recent studies have found that ethanol extracts of papaya exhibit significant hypoglycemic activity. Furthermore, the polysaccharides and polyphenols in papaya can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation, reduce insulin resistance, and further lower blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that the active ingredients in papaya, such as alkaloids, saponins, and tannins, also possess pharmacological activities such as softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, providing antioxidant activity, and protecting the liver, demonstrating positive benefits for diabetic patients. The choice of extraction method in the preparation of papaya extracts significantly impacts the activity and purity of the final product. However, existing methods for extracting papaya extracts often focus primarily on enhancing their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while research on enhancing their hypoglycemic activity remains limited, requiring further improvement.

[0004] In summary, the present invention aims to further improve the extraction process of papaya extract, so as to play a greater role in the field of lowering blood sugar. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a papaya extract that assists in lowering blood sugar and a method for preparing the same, thereby addressing the aforementioned problems in the background art. The papaya extract prepared by the present invention has a significant effect in assisting in lowering blood sugar, has no side effects on the human body, exhibits long-lasting efficacy, and has a simple and convenient preparation process. The extract has excellent application value and provides strong support for the development of hypoglycemic drugs.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] One of the technical solutions of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar, comprising the following steps:

[0008] Mixing papaya with an alkaline solution, adding a stabilizer, performing alkaline extraction, and filtering to obtain a filter residue and a filtrate;

[0009] Purifying the filtrate to obtain precursor A;

[0010] The filter residue is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, filtered to obtain a filtrate, subjected to alcohol precipitation, and then the precipitate is collected to obtain a precursor B;

[0011] The precursor A and the precursor B are combined to obtain the papaya extract.

[0012] Preferably, the alkaline solution is a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.3 mol / L; the material-liquid ratio of the papaya to the alkaline solution is 1 g:5-20 mL.

[0013] Preferably, the stabilizer is lactic acid and / or phosphate; the added amount of the stabilizer is 0.3-0.5% of the mass of the papaya.

[0014] Preferably, the alkali extraction is carried out under ultrasonic conditions with an ultrasonic frequency of 50-100 kHz, a power of 100-300 W, a temperature of 60-70° C., and a time of 1-1.5 h.

[0015] Preferably, the purification treatment comprises the following steps: mixing the filtrate with ethanol in a volume ratio of 1:1-5 for precipitation for 5-12 hours, and then concentrating to 1 / 5 of the volume of the filtrate.

[0016] Preferably, the enzymes used in the enzymatic hydrolysis treatment are amylase and cellulase, the pH value is 4.5-6.5, the temperature is 50-60° C., and the time is 40-60 min.

[0017] Preferably, the alcohol precipitation treatment comprises the following steps: mixing the filtrate with ethanol in a volume ratio of 1:1-5 and precipitating for 10-20 hours.

[0018] The second technical solution of the present invention is to provide a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar obtained according to the above preparation method.

[0019] The third technical solution of the present invention is to provide an application of the above papaya extract in the preparation of hypoglycemic drugs.

[0020] The technical principles of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] Compared with acid extraction and other methods, alkaline extraction can achieve better extraction effect in this system; this may be because the active ingredients in the raw material system of the present invention are easier to dissolve and extract under alkaline conditions.

[0022] When the extraction temperature in the alkaline extraction stage is higher than the range defined in the present invention, the polysaccharide will be excessively degraded, thereby affecting its physiological activity.

[0023] During the preparation of papaya extract, cellulase can decompose the cellulose and hemicellulose in papaya, promote the dissolution of plant cell walls, dissolve more solutes in plant cells, facilitate the extraction of polyphenols, and improve the extraction rate of effective ingredients.

[0024] The papaya extract of the present invention is rich in dietary fiber, which helps to slow down the digestion and absorption speed of food, reduce the fluctuation of blood sugar, and thus helps to stabilize blood sugar.

[0025] The enzymatic hydrolysis time of the present invention should not be too long, otherwise too many effective ingredients will be decomposed into small molecular substances, which will affect its blood sugar-lowering activity.

[0026] The beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0027] The papaya extract prepared by the present invention has significant effects in assisting blood sugar reduction, has no side effects on the human body, has long-lasting efficacy, and has a simple and convenient preparation process. It has great application value and provides strong support for the development of hypoglycemic drugs. The present invention improves the extraction efficiency of the active ingredients in papaya, ensuring that the hypoglycemic activity of the extract is retained to the greatest extent. The enhanced hypoglycemic effect of the papaya extract of the present invention may be achieved by further inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the upper small intestine, thereby reducing blood sugar levels, and has the potential to treat type 2 diabetes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail. This detailed description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention, but should be understood as a more detailed description of certain aspects, features, and embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the terms used in the present invention are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0029] In addition, for numerical ranges in the present invention, it is understood that each intervening value between the upper and lower limits of the range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or stated range, and any other stated value or intervening value in the stated range, is also included in the present invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although preferred methods and materials have been described herein, any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention.

[0031] The terms “include,” “including,” “have,” “contain,” etc. used in the present invention are open-ended terms, meaning including but not limited to.

[0032] The volume concentration of ethanol used in the following examples and comparative examples of the present invention is 95%.

[0033] The raw materials used in the following examples and comparative examples of the present invention are all commercially available products.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] A method for preparing a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar comprises the following steps:

[0036] (1) After the papaya is cleaned and chopped, it is mixed with a 0.2 mol / L sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at a material-liquid ratio of 1 g:10 mL, and then 0.5% of lactic acid, based on the mass of the papaya, is added as a stabilizer to prevent degradation of polysaccharides and other components during the extraction process; ultrasonic extraction is then performed (ultrasonic frequency of 60 kHz, power of 200 W, temperature of 65°C, and time of 1.5 h). After the extraction is completed, citric acid is added for neutralization to reduce the pH value of the solution to a neutral range; and filtration is performed to obtain a filter residue and a filtrate;

[0037] The filtrate was mixed with ethanol at a volume ratio of 1:3 and precipitated for 8 h, and then concentrated by vacuum rotary evaporation to 1 / 5 of the volume of the filtrate to obtain precursor A;

[0038] (2) Weigh 100 mg of α-amylase and 100 mg of cellulase and dissolve them in 10 mL of deionized water to obtain enzyme solution;

[0039] The filter residue was mixed with the enzyme solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1 g:5 mL, the pH value was adjusted to 6.5, and enzymatic hydrolysis was performed (ultrasonic frequency of 60 kHz, power of 200 W, temperature of 55°C, time of 50 min), followed by inactivation at 100°C for 5 min, and the filtrate was collected by filtration. The filtrate was mixed with ethanol at a volume ratio of 1:3 and precipitated for 15 h, and the precipitate was collected by centrifugation to obtain precursor B;

[0040] (3) Precursor A and precursor B are combined and mixed evenly using a high-pressure homogenizer to obtain a papaya extract.

[0041] Example 2

[0042] A method for preparing a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar comprises the following steps:

[0043] (1) After the papaya is cleaned and chopped, it is mixed with a 0.1 mol / L sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at a material-liquid ratio of 1 g:15 mL, and then 0.4% lactic acid equivalent to the mass of the papaya is added as a stabilizer to prevent the degradation of polysaccharides and other components during the extraction process; ultrasonic extraction is then performed (ultrasonic frequency of 60 kHz, power of 200 W, temperature of 60°C, time of 1 h), and after the extraction is completed, citric acid is added for neutralization treatment to reduce the pH value of the solution to a neutral range; and filtration is performed to obtain a filter residue and a filtrate;

[0044] The filtrate was mixed with ethanol at a volume ratio of 1:3 and precipitated for 10 h, and then concentrated by vacuum rotary evaporation to 1 / 5 of the volume of the filtrate to obtain precursor A;

[0045] (2) Weigh 100 mg of α-amylase and 100 mg of cellulase and dissolve them in 10 mL of deionized water to obtain enzyme solution;

[0046] The filter residue was mixed with the enzyme solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1 g:5 mL, the pH value was adjusted to 6.5, and enzymatic hydrolysis was performed (ultrasonic frequency of 60 kHz, power of 200 W, temperature of 55°C, time of 50 min), followed by inactivation at 100°C for 5 min, and the filtrate was collected by filtration. The filtrate was mixed with ethanol at a volume ratio of 1:3 and precipitated for 15 h, and the precipitate was collected by centrifugation to obtain precursor B;

[0047] (3) Precursor A and precursor B are combined and mixed evenly using a high-pressure homogenizer to obtain a papaya extract.

[0048] Comparative Example 1 (replacing alkaline extraction with acid extraction)

[0049] The only difference from Example 1 is that the sodium hydroxide aqueous solution is replaced by an equal mass of hydrochloric acid aqueous solution (concentration 0.1 mol / L).

[0050] Comparative Example 2

[0051] The only difference from Example 1 is that the cellulase is replaced by pectinase of equal mass.

[0052] Comparative Example 3

[0053] The only difference from Example 1 is that the addition of the stabilizer is omitted.

[0054] Effect verification

[0055] Animal experiments have verified the hypoglycemic effect of the papaya extract:

[0056] 80 type 2 diabetic rats (GK rats) were divided into 8 treatment groups, of which 7 treatment groups were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet (the diet was a rat basal diet supplemented with 15 wt% glucose and 10 wt% animal oil), and the treatment group fed with the rat basal diet was used as a control (basic feed group). Before the experiment, all rats were fed with the corresponding feed for 2 weeks to ensure blood sugar stability; among the treatment groups fed with high-fat, high-sugar diet, 6 treatment groups were selected and gavaged with the products of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3, as well as the precursor A and precursor B in Example 1 (measured at 200 mg / kg), and the treatment group gavaged with the same amount of deionized water was used as a control (high-fat, high-sugar diet group); the average fasting blood sugar levels of the rats in each group at 0, 3, and 9 weeks of feeding were counted, and the gavage of papaya extract and deionized water was stopped at 9 weeks, and the average fasting blood sugar levels of the rats were tested 1 week after the gavage was stopped. The measurement results are shown in Table 1.

[0057] Table 1 Average blood glucose levels (mmol / L)

[0058] Week 0 Week 3 Week 9 Stop taking for 1 week Example 1 26.6 17.5 16.8 19.3 Comparative Example 1 27.2 24.2 24.9 26.3 Comparative Example 2 27.1 22.5 22.1 24.7 Comparative Example 3 26.7 23.0 22.4 23.3 Precursor A 26.9 22.2 21.8 23.1 Precursor B 26.8 20.1 19.4 21.5 Basic feed group 6.2 6.4 6.7 / High-fat and high-sugar diet group 27.1 28.3 29.0 28.4

[0059] The embodiments described above are merely descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by persons skilled in the art should fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar, characterized in that: Here are the steps: Mixing papaya with an alkaline solution, adding a stabilizer, performing alkaline extraction, and filtering to obtain a filter residue and a filtrate; Purifying the filtrate to obtain precursor A; The filter residue is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, filtered to obtain a filtrate, subjected to alcohol precipitation, and then the precipitate is collected to obtain a precursor B; combining the precursor A and the precursor B to obtain the papaya extract; The alkaline solution is a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.3 mol / L; the material-liquid ratio of the papaya to the alkaline solution is 1 g:5-20 mL; The enzymes used in the enzymatic hydrolysis treatment are amylase and cellulase, the pH value is 4.5-6.5, the temperature is 50-60°C, and the time is 40-60 minutes; The stabilizer is lactic acid and / or phosphate; the added amount of the stabilizer is 0.3-0.5% of the mass of the papaya.

2. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that The alkali extraction is carried out under ultrasonic conditions with an ultrasonic frequency of 50-100 kHz, a power of 100-300 W, a temperature of 60-70° C., and a time of 1-1.5 h.

3. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that The purification process comprises the following steps: mixing the filtrate with ethanol at a volume ratio of 1:1-5 for precipitation for 5-12 hours, and then concentrating to 1 / 5 of the volume of the filtrate.

4. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that The alcohol precipitation treatment comprises the following steps: mixing the filtrate with ethanol in a volume ratio of 1:1-5 and performing precipitation for 10-20 hours.

5. A papaya extract for assisting in lowering blood sugar obtained by the preparation method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Use of the papaya extract according to claim 5 in the preparation of hypoglycemic drugs.