Haemato-biochemistry of Albino Rats Fed African Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides Roxb. Benth) Seed Diet

Abstract

The &cts of cooked and acid-extracted kudzu seed meals on some nutritional and blood and liver biochemical
parameters were investigated. Ra tsfid cooked kudzu meal had sign$can tly (p<O.Ol) slower rates ofgrowth than
the casein control. Cooking enhancedfeed @ciency (FE) but the acid-extracted meal could not support growth
resulting in negative protein f$iaency ratio (PER). Serum and liver protein in kudzu-fid ruts were nonsignzjimntly
lower than the control (P<0.05). The kudzu meals exerted sign$cant (P<0.05) hyperglycemic effect relative to
m - n . Serum and liver total lipids and cholesterol were non-signifcan tly ehated relative to the controls. Alterations
in thehaematocrit were not signzficant, but the signifcantly (p<O.01) lower white blood cell (WBC) in kudzu-fid
rats urns inexplicable. The possible reasons and nutritional implications of theseobservations were bm$y highlighted.
It was concluded that cooked kudzu meal, with adequate amino acid supplementation, could possibly be well
tolerated as protein supplement in food and animal fieding.