Short term toxicological analysis and effect of total replacement of wheat with Balanite aegyptiaca seed cake on albino rats

Abstract

The short-term toxicological analysis of Balanite aegyptiaca seed cake (BASC) in rat feed has been carried out in order to determinate its suitability as an additive in feed supplement by comparing the effect of total replacement of wheat with BASC. The proximate analysis of BASC showed that it contained a high protein and a very low carbohydrate value of 49.32 ± 0.13% and 11.02 ± 0.18% respectively with an energy value of 1540.32 ± 1.84kJ/100g. The in vivo experiment with albino rats fed with feed with its wheat constituent totally replaced by B. aegyptiaca seed cake lasted for eight weeks. The albino rats appeared to suffer no toxicological effect and their weekly monitoring showed good physical appearance. There were no significant differences between the haematological, histopathological and the blood chemistry results obtained for both the test and control groups.