The effects of Vicia faba diet on urinary nitrogenous compounds and on enzyme activities of pathways directly associated with amino acid metabolism were studied in rats and chicks. The urea and creatinine excretion of rats fed on V. faba was approximately 90% more than that of control rats. The V.-faba-fed rats had increased activities of liver arginase (EC 3.5.3.1), argininosuccinate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.5) and alanine aminotrans-ferase (EC 2.6.1.2). The chicks fed on V. faba also showed increased activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.3.2). The possible nature of these altered amino-acid-degrading enzyme activities is discussed.

Saline extract solutions from seeds of both Phaseolus vulgaris and Vicia faba varieties were prepared and tested for their total polyphenolic content and effect on intestinal D-Glucose transport across rat ileum in viva. Intestinal D-ghCOSe transport was significantly reduced (P< 0.001) by the presence of seed-extracts in the intestinal loop, regardless of the source of the extract. The order of potency (Phaseolus vulgaris, var. artropurpurea > Vicia faba, var. caballur > Vicia ,faha, var. minor > Phaseolus vulgaris, var. albus) is closely related to the polyphenolic content. Clear differences in the mode of action of the extracts were also observed. Extracts with appreciable polyphenolic content caused both a reversible and a lasting inhibitory effect on glucose transport, whilst extracts with negligible polyphenolic content only induced a reversible inhibition. Polyamide treatment of the extracts decreased their ability to inhibit glucose transport, but their inhibitory effect was not completely abolished by the treatment, further suggesting the presence of some other anti-absorptive factor(s) in the seeds.

The inclusion of peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein in the diet of growing rats brings about a reduction in growth rate as well as the impairment in the liver, muscle and spleen weights as compared with casein fed controls. Also, a fall in plasma glucose, triglycerides and protein was observed in the legume fed animals, while no changes in cholesterol levels were found. Furthermore, the rats fed on the diet containing peas showed lower levels of plasma insulin, corticosterone, IGF-I and T4 as compared with casein controls. Liver and muscle total protein (mg) and total DNA (mg) were markedly decreased in the legume fed animals, but DNA/g, protein/DNA and RNA/protein ratios were similar in both dietary groups. Likewise, liver and muscle fractional synthesis rates were similar in the casein and legume groups, while the whole body protein synthesis is assumed to be lower in the legume fed animals due to differences in body weights. It is concluded that animals fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the only source of protein showed less adverse effects than those found with other legumes such as Vicia faba L. or Phaseolus vulgaris L., in which protein quality, antinutritional factors and nutrient availability could be involved.

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