Dietary Incorporation of Boiled Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) Seeds 1: Growth and Toxicity in Rats

摘要

The seeds of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) are known to have some nutritional properties that suggest they are good food sources but their effects on growth and toxicity is not known. Twenty four adult male albino rats were divided into 4 groups: A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control group while groups B, C and D received 5, 15 and 45% boiled T. occidentalis supplemented diets for 21 days. Growth indicators and toxicity markers were assessed in all rats at the end of the study using standard protocol. The results show similar feed consumption index at the start and end of the study. Rats in the control group had the highest final weight (212.23±39.35 g) while those in groups C and D had slightly lower (though statistically similar) weights (192.03±23.64 and 192.01±27.98 g, respectively). Rats in group B weighed, however significantly (p<0.05) less (181.25±18.66 g) than the control group at 21 days. The percentage relative weight gain of the different groups was nevertheless proportional to the T. occidentalis content of the diets. Test rats also had better feed utilization index at week 3 relative to the control. The relative weights of the liver and kidneys of rats in the 4 groups and the levels of alanine and aspartate transaminases in the sera of the rats were similar (p>0.05). Dietary incorporation of the seeds of T. occidentalis resulted in good growth and did not have any detectable toxicity after 21 days. Other aspects of health that may be affected by the consumption of oil-seeds need to be investigated.