Neurobehavioral and Ameliorative Effect of Complan Milk and Bambara Nut on Rats Fed With Bitter Cassava – A Nutritional Approach

Abstract

Cassava products have been introduced to the market in different regions of the world as part of diet, despite containing more than one toxic substance. Roots and leaves of cassava of all varieties contain cyanogenic glucoside, mainly as linamarin, but also as lotaustralin, in different concentrations in their cellular vacuoles. Twenty (20) albino Wistar rats were used for this research and were randomly selected into 4 groups of five 5 rats each. The result obtained from the study showed that there was a significant reduction in weight of the Konzo induced Wistar rats group from week 1 to week 4. A weight gain of 21.7g to 34.7g was observed in the cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed group Wistar rats when compared with the cassava-induced Konzo group Wistar rats. There was a decrease in Na+,K+, Urea, Creatinine and HCO3 in cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed group Wistar rats when compared with cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group and control group. In evaluating the motor coordination/impairment using rotarod test, cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group, cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats group and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed Wistar rats group spent a significantly less mean time 20.65±0.33, 24.93±0.67 and 25.71±0.72 respectively when compared to the control group mean time of 39.45±0.42. Also, a significant improvement in motor coordination was observed in cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats group and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed Wistar rats group when compared with cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group. From the histological evaluation of the brain of the Wistar rats showed neurons that are vacuolated as a result of bitter cassava and alpha motor neurons. It is hence concluded that the toxic effect of bitter cassava can be ameliorated using proteins or balanced diets such as milk and bambara nuts (Okpa).

Compensatory Mechanism of Diet Containing Sulphur-Rich Amino Acids in Restoring Neurotoxico-Nutritional Deficits in Konzo Disease Rat Model

“…In a study also done by Enefa et al [6] there was significant reduction in weight in animal fed with cassava due to the presence of cyanide in cassava which was in keeping with our study. Shama et al [16] and David et al [10] posited also in their studies that there was a reduction in weight of the Wistar rats fed with unprocessed cassava rich cyanogenic glycosides also indicating the effect of cassava on weight.…”

“…This group were the first to demonstrate cognitive impairment with konzo [3,4], after earlier electroencephalographic studies suggested cortical involvement [1,5]. Not much study has been carried out on konzo disease using animal models, but in recent times, a neuroscience researcher in Nigeria, David Lekpa Kingdom, has been carrying out in-vivo study into the neurological effect of bitter cassava induced konzo disease using rat models to better understand the mechanism in which konzo affects the neural system [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

Nutritional Approach to Ameliorate Demyelinating Changes Expressed in Spinal Olig2 Immunoreactivity in a Konzo Disease Rat Model

“…The cortex was scraped using a cutter shortly after harvesting to reveal the whitish interior layer. The cassava roots were then chopped into tiny pieces, similar to pommes frites, and sun-dried for three days as described by Enefa et al, [30] and David et al, [31].…”

“…The method of Konzo induction is as described by David et al, [31] and David et al, [32] with slight modification. Bitter cassava chow was made from pommes frites cassava that was grinded into a powdered form using a grinding machine and fed to the animals used for the experiment for the period of 5 weeks.…”

“…The experimental design as described by Enefa et al, [30] and David et al, [31] with slight modification was used in this study. The experimental animals were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 served as positive control and were identified as Normal control (NC) and they were fed with rat feed and water ad libitum only for 5 weeks.…”