Antinutritional Factors of Five Selected Underutilized Legumes

Antinutritional factors (ANFs) are a major factor reducing the wider use of underutilized legumes as human food and animal feeds, as a result of the deleterious effects produced by ANFs in man and animals. This study evaluated the levels of some common ANFs in selected in five selected underutilized legumes (ULs) from the Genetic Resources Unit of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The selected ULs were Winged bean (WB) (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (Tpt-48), Lima bean (LB) (Phaseolus lunatus) (2006-009), Bambara groundnut (BG) (Vigna subterranea) (TVSU- 1482), Jack bean (JB) (Canavalia ensiformis) (Tce-4) and Sword bean (SB) (Canavalia gladiata) (Tcg-4). All the ANFs were analyzed using standard methods. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. The results showed that trypsin inhibitors ranged from 13.76+0.02 mg/g (LB) to 39.71+0.04 mg/g (SB), hydrogen cyanides ranged from 9.30+0.02 mg/kg (LB) to 41.41+0.04 mg/kg (SB), oxalates ranged from 0.11+0.00% (BG) to 0.38+0.001% (SB), phytates ranged from 0.24+0.00% (BG) to 0.69+0.002% (SB), saponins ranged from 0.22+0.00% (WB) to 0.35+0.00% (BG), tannins ranged from 0.04+0.00% (WB) to 0.08+0.003% (SB), alkaloids ranged from 0.14+0.00% (WB) to 0.15+0.00% (LB) and haemagglutinins ranged from 25.27+0.01% (LB) to 66.92+0.04% (BG). The study concluded that all the selected underutilized legumes in this study contained antinutritional factors at varying levels and there is a need to investigate the suitable processing methods to either reduce or eliminate the inherent ANFs in these ULs. Keywords: Antinutritional factors, underutilized, legumes, human food, animal feed

Antioxidant Profile of Graded Levels of Unprocessed Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Seeds Assayed from Liver and Kidneys of Male Wistar Strain Rats

The present study investigated the hepatic and renal antioxidant profiles in male Wistar rats fed with graded levels of unprocessed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seeds for 21 days. The study consisted of six groups of 5 rats each. Group A was fed 10% pigeon pea inclusion diet (PPID), group B: 20% (PPID), Group C: 30% (PPID), Group D: 40% (PPID), Group E: 100% pigeon pea diet (PPD), while Group F rats were fed with commercial rat feed and served as the control. Endogenous activities of antioxidant enzymes namely catalase and superoxide dismutase as well oxidative stress markers including hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde were analyzed in the liver and kidney of the rats. Results showed that reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration was decreased in the kidneys whereas it increased significantly above the control in the liver tissues of rats in all the fed groups. Feeding of unprocessed Cajanus cajan caused a significant increase in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level in the liver of 30% PPID and in 40% PPID group and in the kidney at 100% PPD group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the liver and kidney tissues of the rats with the highest value in the 40% PPID for the liver of the rats. Renal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly decreased in 10% PPID and in 30% PPID rats whereas hepatic SOD activity increased in the 40% PPID and in 100% PPD group. Hepatic catalase activity increased significantly in all treatment groups whereas the increase in renal catalase activity was noted only in 40% PPID and in 100% PPD group.  In conclusion, consumption of unprocessed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seeds disrupted antioxidant system and induced oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of rats. Keywords: Pigeon pea, antioxidant, liver, kidney, rats

Evaluation of the Haematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Mice Fed with Three Varieties of Unprocessed Lima Beans (Phaeolus lunatus)

Lima Bean (LB) (Phaseolus lunatus) is an underutilized legume. This study evaluated effects of feeding three varieties of unprocessed LB diets (LB011, LB001 and LB015) from IITA, Ibadan on the haematology and serum chemistry of mice. 40 mice weighing 17g-32g, divided into four groups (A-D), of 10 mice per group were used. Group A (control) received commercial mice feed while  groups B, C and D received 50% LB diet inclusions of LB011, LB001 and LB015 respectively. All analyses were done using standard protocols and statistical analysis was done using students’ t-test. Group D mice recorded the highest packed cell volume (40.00±1.00%), Haemoglobin (13.43±0.12 g/dl) and red blood cells counts (6.52±0.06 106/ul). Group C mice gave the highest white blood cells counts (5688±370.50 109/ul). For serum chemistry, Group D mice recorded the highest ALP (224.7±23.71 U/L), Group C mice gave the highest ALT (137±8.87 U/L) while Group A mice had highest AST (256.8±33.34 U/L). The study concluded that consumption of the different varieties of unprocessed lima beans did not produce significant adverse effects on the haematology and serum biochemistry of the mice. Keywords: Lima beans, mice, biochemical, IITA

Spermatotoxicity and testicular pathology in Wistar strain rats fed graded levels of pigeon pea diet

Summary: Pigeon pea is an important grain legume in the tropics and subtropics and it is a valuable source of low-cost plant protein for humans and animals, but it remains an underutilized legume. Effects of feeding graded levels of raw pigeon pea seed inclusion diets on testicular function in Wistar rats was investigated. Thirty male Wistar rats weighing between 120 and 160 g were assigned into six groups (A-F) of 5 rats each. Group A rats served as the control and were fed with standard rat feed, Group B was fed with 10% pigeon pea inclusion diet, group C: 20% pigeon pea inclusion diet, Group D: 30% pigeon pea inclusion diet, Group E: 40% pigeon pea inclusion diet and Group F: 100% pigeon pea diet. Each rat received 30 g of feeds per day for 21 days with drinking water ad libitum. All analyses were carried out using standard methods. The motility scores were between 34.00±2.45 and 87.00±3.00 with the control group A having the significantly highest score (P<0.05) compared to the other groups. Group B rats had a significantly higher (P<0.05) values of (76.00±6.96) than groups C, D, E, and F while groups D, E and F were lower than normal range. This same trend was observed for the sperm viability and count across the groups. No lesion was observed in the testicular histology of rats in groups A, B, and D. The testis of rats in group C showed marked expansion of the interstitium by oedema, while the testis of group E rats showed immature germ cells in the seminiferous tubular lumen and the testis of group F rats revealed slightly reduced germinal depth. It was concluded in this study that feeding of pigeon pea seed diet to rats beyond 20% inclusion level is spermatotoxic having severe adverse effects on the sperm motility, viability and count and caused some testicular lesions. However, unprocessed pigeon pea must be incorporated with caution into animal feeds, especially the male animals used for breeding.Keywords: Semen, Testes, Pigeon pea, Wistar rats, Motility, Histolog