Effect of biscuits formulated from acha–sandpaper leaf composite flour on fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and activities of key enzymes linked to diabetes and hypertension in streptozotocin/l‐NAME‐induced hypertensive–diabetic rats

Acha grains and sandpaper leaf are commonly used by locals for diabetes and hypertension management, respectively. However, this study sought to produce biscuits from acha–sandpaper leaf composite flour and evaluate their ameliorative potentials in streptozotocin (STZ)/Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methylester hydrochloride (l‐NAME)‐induced hypertensive–diabetic rats. Group I (non‐diabetic/normotensive), group II (negative control), group III (positive control) rats were placed on standard drugs, and groups IV–VII rats were placed on formulated biscuits supplemented with 0%, 1.25%, 2.5%, and 3.75% sandpaper leaf flour. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood pressure (BP) of the experimental rats were measured. In addition, the activities of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and angiotensin‐1‐converting enzyme (ACE) as well as antioxidant status were evaluated in all the groups and compared. However, the obtained results showed a significant reduction in the FBG and BP and in the activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and ACE in biscuit‐fed hypertensive–diabetes rats when compared with group II rats. Meanwhile, antioxidant status in biscuit‐fed hypertensive–diabetes rats was enhanced when compared with the untreated hypertensive–diabetic rats. Nevertheless, biscuit with 3.75% sandpaper leaf had better hypertensive–diabetic property than other biscuits which could be linked to bioactive compounds present in the biscuits. Practical applications Acha and sandpaper leaf has been used for the management of diabetes and hypertension respectively. However, formulating medicinal biscuits as a diary approach for the management of diabetic and its complication (hypertension) in STZ/l‐NAME‐induced hypertensive–diabetic rats is highly imperative. Based on our findings, cookies from the acha and sandpaper leaf flour blend exhibits pharmacological effect which could be linked to the presence of numerous bioactive constituents present in the cookies. Thus, the formulated cookies stand as a promising candidate for functional food and further work in this area is needed. Biscuits from acha‐sandpaper composite flour lowers elevated fasting blood glucose and blood pressure in streptozotocin (STZ)/Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methylester hydrochloride (L‐NAME)‐induced hypertensive‐diabetic rats. The bioactive compounds in the formulated biscuits reduced activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase as well as angiotensin converting enzyme in hypertensive diabetic rats. Meanwhile, biscuit with 3.75% sandpaper l