Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of processing on lectin and trypsin inhibitor contents ofPlukenetia conophora seeds and assessed such effect on growth and nutrient metabolism in rats. Mature conophora seeds were divided into three groups based on processing. The seeds were sun-dried and pulverized, and portions from each group were subjected to proximate composition analysis and measurement for the contents of trypsin inhibitor and lectin. The dried samples were incorporated into diets of experimental rats. Albino rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed with the control or experimental diets for a period of 21 days. During this period, feces and urine were collected, and body weights of the animals were measured daily. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected from the rats for heamatological analysis, then the animals were sacrificed and some key organs were excised for histopathological analysis. The results showed that trypsin inhibitor and lectin contents of the raw seeds were higher than the under processed and processed seeds. All measured parameters including gain in body weight, feed utilization efficiency, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, nitrogen retention and heamatological parameters were markedly different among the three groups of animals fed on diets incorporated with the conophora seeds, in comparison with the control animals. Histopathological analysis indicated that the lung and the spleen were adversely affected in animals treated with the under processed and the unprocessed seeds with the severity of toxicity more pronounced in the unprocessed group. These findings showed that P. conophora seeds have high nutritive value but ingestion of the unprocessed seeds impaired growth, affected nutrients utilization and caused damage to the lung and the spleen in experimental animals.

Key words: Conophor seeds, trypsin inhibitor, lectin, processing, metabolism, growth.