Fibers from tubers and rhizomes of local plant species in Indonesia as a potent dietary supplement to prevent diet-induced obesity

Abstract

Various tubers and rhizomes of local plant species in Indonesia have potential as alternative foods and resources of dietary fiber that could counteract metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and associated health issues. However, studies focusing on the composition and medicinal benefits of extracted fibers from tubers and rhizomes remain limited. Our present study aimed to explore the composition and the beneficial effects of dietary fiber extracted from tubers of achira (Canna edulis), Mentawai taro (Colocasia sp.), arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), and jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) to counteract obesity development in mice fed with a fatty diet. Fibers were extracted from tubers and rhizomes, followed by proximate analysis to determine the nutritional and fiber composition. Thereafter, each fiber was tested for its effectiveness in preventing obesity caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) by using mice as the animal model. We revealed that all extracted fibers predominantly consisted of non-starchy carbs with very low fat and protein levels. The extract of achira and jicama consisted of higher total dietary fiber as compared to others. Our experiment on mice demonstrated that supplementation of 25% fiber of achira, Mentawai taro, arrowroot, and jicama in HFD could effectively prevent obesity independent of daily calorie intake. Our findings suggest that the dietary fiber of achira, Mentawai taro, arrowroot, and jicama could be a potent candidate as a supplement to combat HFD-induced obesity.