Metabolic effects of purple potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) dietary juice on rats (a pilot study)

Potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) are an important food source, containing high concentrations of vitamins C, B vitamins, macroelements (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium), microelements (iron, iodine, selenium, zinc), complex carbohydrates, and essential amino acids. Varieties with pigmented flesh are rich in carotenoids, tocopherols, lipoic acid, L-tyrosine, and polyphenols. However, the biological effects of potato juice are not well-documented. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic effects induced by the inclusion of juice from raw purple-fleshed potato tubers in the diet of white rats. The study included three groups of male non-linear rats, with 6 individuals in each group (age of 9-10 weeks, weight 278.7±5.28 g). Every morning for a month, the experimental group received juice from purple-fleshed potato tubers, while the control groups received juice from regular potatoes and drinking water. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the experiment (baseline), after 30 days (treatment), and 60 days (post-treatment). Plasma levels of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, chlorides, bicarbonates, total protein, albumins, globulins, urea, uric acid, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, total creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cholinesterase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and lipase were measured using reagent kits (AO Vital Development Corporation, Russia) on a Chem Well-2910 Combi biochemical analyzer (Awaveness Technology, USA). Erythrocyte osmotic resistance as well as malondialdehyde content and total antioxidant status were determined using commercial kits (AO Vector-Best, Russia) on a BioMate 160 UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, the USA). Data were processed using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test with the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner post-hoc test (p function show_eabstract() { $('#eabstract1').hide(); $('#eabstract2').show(); $('#eabstract_expand').hide(); }