Cajanus cajan: Potentials as Functional Food

Abstract

Cajanus cajan seeds constitute a major part of the diet in most parts of Eastern Nigeria. In this study, the seeds were evaluated on some indices of good health in normal male albino rats. Two groups of six rats each were used for the experiment. The C. cajan seeds we re compounded (1:1) with commercial rat pellet and fed to the test rats while the control was fed commercial pellets for 30 days. The effects on animal weight, serum proteins, electrolytes and heamatological parameters, were determined. In addition, antioxidant enzymes which include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Gluthathione perioxidase (GPx) and lipid perioxidation as biomarkers of oxidative stress and lipoproteins profile of the animals were also evaluated. Results showed lower weight gai n (p0.05). Activities of SOD and GPx were lowered (p>0.05), however, catalase activity was elevated (p<0.05). MDA level was unchanged. There was decrease (p<0.05) in TC, VLDL, TAG, while HDL was increased (p<0.05). These results indicate positive effect on indices of good health, and parameters that predispose a subject to dev elopment of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Keywords

• Cajanus cajan
• heamatological indices
• antioxidant enzymes
• lipids