Functional noodles enriched with burdock root extract: alleviating type 2 diabetes via modulating starch digestion and gut microbiota homeostasis

Burdock root (Arctium lappa L.) is rich in dietary fiber and polyphenols with hypoglycemic potential, but its application in low-glycemic index (GI) staple foods is underexplored. This study developed burdock root extract-enriched buckwheat noodles (B-BRE) for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. The optimal 3.6% burdock root extract-enriched buckwheat noodles (B-BRE2) had a low estimated GI, increased resistant starch, and strong α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. In a high-fat diet and streptozotocin induced T2DM mice, B-BRE2 significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance, alleviated insulin resistance, mitigated organ injury, restored gut microbiota diversity, and enriched beneficial Lactobacillus. B-BRE2 ameliorates T2DM via modulating starch digestibility and gut microbiota, offering a novel strategy for low-GI functional staples.