The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate gluten free biscuits specifically designed for individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. To achieve this, five different biscuit formulations were prepared to investigate the effects of hydrocolloids and blends of rice and chickpea flours on biscuit quality. T0 (control) was made entirely with wheat flour and did not include any gluten-free components. In the T1 to T2 (experimental treatments), wheat flour was replaced with varying combinations of rice flour (70% to 80%) and chickpea flour (18% to 29%). Additionally, natural hydrocolloids gum karaya and gum acacia were incorporated at two levels: 0.5% and 1.0%. The specific formulations were as follows: T1 consisted of 80% rice flour, 19% chickpea flour, and 0.5% of each gum; T2 had the same flour composition but included 1.0% of each gum; T3 contained 70% rice flour, 29% chickpea flour, and 0.5% of each gum; while T4 used 70% rice flour, 28% chickpea flour, and 1.0% of each gum. These formulations were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and were also subjected to sensory evaluation. The results indicated that all gluten free treatments significantly improved biscuit quality in comparison to the control sample. Among them, T4 demonstrated the best physical and antioxidant properties, along with improved spread ratio and superior nutritional values in terms of moisture, protein, fat, and ash content. Therefore, T4 was selected as the most effective gluten-free biscuit formulation in this study.

Background Diosgenin is a steroidal saponin of Dioscorea and Trigonella species, which has been gaining a lot of interest due to its health-promoting action. This review will summarize the potential usefulness of diosgenin, especially with regard to the use of diosgenin in the regulation of gastrointestinal microbiota, the effects, therapeutic mechanisms, utility, and practical implications. Objectives This review aims to comprehensively examine the phytochemistry, extraction techniques, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of diosgenin, with emphasis on its role in gastrointestinal health. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 2019 and 2025 was conducted via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, prioritizing clinical trials, animal studies, and systematic reviews in accordance with predefined inclusion criteria. Findings Diosgenin has been shown to have the ability to defend the gut, prevent cancer by modifying the signal transduction pathway of NF-kB and MAPK; thereby reinforcing the barrier to the gut and reducing inflammation. Diosgenin is also able to shift the intestinal microbiome in favor of healthy species, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Bioavailability may be modulated by new approaches in nanoparticle delivery or macromolecular cyclodextrin complexes. Conclusion and future directions Diosgenin may be applied in the treatment of gastrointestinal-associated conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer. What also makes it clinically significant is the capability to achieve the balance of the gut-brain axis. Future clinical trials and pharmacokinetics studies need to be conducted in order to know how diosgenin is demonstrated in functional foods and personalized medicine, and be able to use them in therapies. Graphical Abstract