Effects of Four Local Species of Beans Consumed in South-eastern Nigeria on Selected Biochemical Indices of Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The chemical composition and the effects of four local species of beans on the liver and kidney function of Wistar albino rats were examined. The four beans species are Cajanus Cajan, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis, Phaseolus vulgaris L ‘Red kidney’, and Phaseolus vulgaris 'Black turtle’. The results obtained for the proximate composition analysis revealed that the protein content of the bean species was higher in P. vulgaris L ‘Red kidney’ (18.54±0.01^a %), and P. vulgaris 'Black turtle’ (18.36±0.01^a %) with no significant difference at P< 0.05. The phytochemical composition analysis revealed that the beans contain various phytochemicals including some anti-nutritional factors. The mineral composition analysis shows that V. u. subsp. Sesquipedalis had a higher level of minerals (4.80±4.43^a mg/100g) followed by C. cajan (3.24±2.64^b mg/100g). The experimental design comprises of 30 male Wistar albino rats distributed into 5 groups of 6 rats each. Each group except the control received 50g of normal rat feed + 100g of beans body weight. The effects of the beans species on the biochemical parameters suggest no adverse effects when compared to the control. Despite that, these beans contain high nutritional components that are of nutritional interest as as well as some anti-nutritional factors.