Antidiabetic, antioxidant, and phytochemical profile of Pennisetum glaucum cultivated in central-southern Morocco and imported from India

Alternative methods of producing food sustainably are being considered due to rapid expanding population, increasing food needs, declining agricultural soils fertility, and ongoing drought. To achieve that, we are examining the pharmacological, functional, and nutritional characteristics of two cultivars of pearl millet, which are distinguished by their ability to tolerate a variety of climates compared to other cereal grains. In this study, we sought to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of two seeds cultivars: one cultivated in Morocco and the other grown in India. In addition to having a higher energy value (403.91 Kcal), higher protein (9.13%) and lipid content (7.11%), and a lower capacity for self-oxidation than the Indian variety due to its fatty acid composition, the content of phenolic compounds of Moroccan millet is well concentrated in its seeds, making it more powerful as an antioxidant and hypoglycemic plant. The ethanolic extract of Moroccan pearl millet showed the greatest total phenolic content (36.278 mg GAE/g extract), DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50=152.286 μg/mL and 252.480 μg/mL respectively), α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50=84.439 μg/mL and 224.103 μg/mL respectively). The evidence gathered in this study indicates that Pennisetum glaucum possesses characteristics that qualify it as a food, medicinal, and productive plant.