Comparative Effects of Moist and Dry Heat on Nutrient Potentials of Tetracarpidium conophorum Nut in Rats

Authors

  • C.G. Nkwonta Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
  • C.A. Ezeokonkwo Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
  • I.C. Obizoba Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2013.89.92

Keywords:

Biological value, digested nitrogen, net protein utilization, protein efficiency ratio, retained nitrogen, Tetracarpidium conophorum

Abstract

The nutritional potential of moist and dry heat treated Tetracarpidium conophorum nut was evaluated using male albino rats (45-55 g). Twenty-four (18) weanling rats were divided into three groups of six rats each on the basis of body weight. These rats were fed for thirty-five (35) days. Caesin (CAS), Boiled T. conophorum (BTC) and Roasted T. conophorum (RTC) were fed these three (3) groups of rats respectively. All chemicals and statistical analysis were based on modern techniques. In vivo bioassay revealed that growth food and nitrogen intakes and Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) were higher in rats fed the RTC diet than in rats fed the BTC diet. However, rats fed the BTC diet gained more weight than those fed the RTC diet. The rats fed the RTC diet had higher food and nitrogen intakes, faecal digested and retained nitrogen, Biological Value (BV) and Net Protein Utilization (NPU) than rats fed the BTC diet. Rats fed the test diets-RTC and BTC- had more than 95% N intake, digested and retained nitrogen. The results indicate that dry-heat treatment improved Nitrogen availability in T. conophorum than moist-heat.

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Published

15.12.2012

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Nkwonta, C., Ezeokonkwo, C., & Obizoba, I. (2012). Comparative Effects of Moist and Dry Heat on Nutrient Potentials of Tetracarpidium conophorum Nut in Rats. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 12(1), 89–92. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2013.89.92