Biological And Chemical Study On Some Legumes And Nuts

Abstract

It is well known that diet plays an important role in the control of cholesterol homeostasis. In the context, eating more legumes, such as beans and peas reduced the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Accordingly, increasing legume intake may be an important part of dietary approach to the primary prevention of CHD. On the other hand epidemiological and clinical studies show that frequent nut consumption was associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart diseases.

The main target of the present investigation is to study the effect of whole and dehulled cooked (raw or germinated faba bean), peanuts and almonds seeds as well as their extracted oils on food intake, body weight gain, food efficiency ratio and the relative ratio between organs weight to body weight of hypercholesterolemic rats. Study the effect of the same material on lipid fractions, liver and kidney functions and thyroid hormones of hypercholesterolemic rats.

Eighty-four male albino rats (Sprague-Dawley Strain) weighing (IIO ±5 gm) were obtained from Helwan Farm. The rats were divided into 2 main groups: The first group (6 rats) fed on basal diet as a (negative control). The second group (78 rats) fed two weeks on basal diet containing cholesterol (I%) and bile salts (0.25%) to induce hypercholesterolemia. The hypercholesterolemic animals were divided randomly into 13 sub groups (n = 6) according to the following scheme:

(1) Fed on basal diet + I% cholesterol+ 0.25% bile salts (Positive control).