Health Risk Assessment of Diabetes Mellitus II for Bioaccumulated Zinc in Some Ethno-Millets from Zawar Mines Udaipur (Rajasthan) India

Rajasthan is one of India's most mineral-rich states, known for the abundance and variety of its minerals. The state possesses deposits of about 81 major and minor mineral types. Operative cum post-mining procedures and natural occurrence of high levels of minerals in soil make many health issues as they enter food chains and prolonged usage causes bio-magnification. Zinc en-routes through rhizosphere, roots, shoots and finally in grains. It is a co-factor for many enzymes and plays vital role in plant’s defense system by quenching free radicals, and thereby reducing ROS damage to cell components. Its concentration in staple foods specifically cereals and millets requires standard permissible limits. Hence, this study was conducted in order to assess the zinc levels in soil, its translocation in seven millet plants i.e. Echinochloa colona , Echinochloa crusgalli , Eleusine coracana , Panicum miliaceum , Paspalum scrobiculatum , Setaria glauca and Setaria italica and the impact of higher zinc accumulated grains on postprandial hyperglycemic biomarker enzymes, specifically α-amylase and α-glucosidase, total sugar content and total dietary fiber. Except for Echinochloa colona and E. crusgalli the zinc concentrations were higher in grains of the other five millets. The risk assessment for diabetes mellitus II reveals low levels of total sugar content in all five millets of test samples. Total dietary fiber didn't reveal significant variation among control and test samples. Anti α-amylase and anti α-glucosidase activity were comparatively higher in test samples of Echinochloa colona and E. crusgalli but only E. colona marked as safer for diabetic patients as grains of E. crusgalli had high levels of zinc. Dietary interventions play a preventive and supportive role by protecting against oxidative damage. Such research offers an evidence-based approach and policy suggestions for reducing human exposure to metals and metalloids consumed through diet. Continuous monitoring is recommended to mitigate ecological as well as human health risk.