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In this study, the anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum) noodles was improved by inclusion of acha (Digitaria exilis) and fig (Ficus exasperata) leaf, which are plants established to have anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypertensive properties respectively. The glycemic indices and the effects of the formulated noodles on fasting blood glucose levels, hemodynamic blood pressures and enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and hypertension [arginase and angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE)] were assessed. The results revealed that inclusion of acha and fig leaf in the noodles caused significant reduction in glycemic indices, fasting blood glucose and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and modulated the activities of enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes and hypertension in the rats. Conclusively, the results revealed that wheat noodles fortified with acha flour and fig leaf could be suitable meal choice for diabetic and hypertensive patients.

A disturbing amount of people are being diagnosed with several chronic ailments, which raises the prevalence of comorbidity diseases. Comorbidity frequently emerges from a disease state's first complications. The conventional medications used to treat these comorbidities frequently have negative side effects and may be hazardous to organs that were not the medications' intended targets. As a result, the necessity to create more efficient strategies to manage these chronic illnesses emerged. Bioactive substances and functional food have been utilized for therapeutic purposes over time without experiencing any discomfort, and several studies have demonstrated the health benefits of these substances and foods. In order for a food product to serve not only as a nutritional source but also for medical and therapeutic purposes, functional food products are created by integrating bioactive substances that have been shown to be helpful in the management of specific chronic conditions. In this review, the management of common non-communicable diseases namely diabetes, hypertension, obesity and erectile dysfunction and the possible functional foods that can be used to manage them singularly and as comorbidity conditions is taken into account.

A common observation with hypertensive patients is the depreciating ability to maintain an erection. The statistics in the occurrence of erectile dysfunction (ED) have recorded a spike owing to intake of anti-hypertensive drugs together with other contributing factors accompanying the development of ED amongst hypertensive patients. There are medication side-effects faced with high blood pressure (HBP) which promotes ED owing to prolonged intake of anti-hypertensive drugs. It is thus reasonable to state that new therapeutic drugs that addresses both ED, HBP and antihypertensive medication will be strategic interventions towards the decline of these conditions by targeting related enzymes and active proteins. Phytomedicinal plants are promising option in managing numerous diseases such as infertility, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes amongst others. Species variants of fig plants (Ficus species) also serve in the management of a wide range of diseases including hypertension and erectile dysfunction as a result of their aphrodisiac and cardio-protective properties owing to their high residual polyphenolic constituents. Hence, the consumption of ficus plants could possibly be beneficial in managing hypertension especially in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.