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Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations

Received: 3 March 2021     Accepted: 19 March 2021     Published: 30 March 2021
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Abstract

Protein-rich weanling food products, particularly those from animal sources, are not very accessible and affordable in several developing nations in Africa. Most women resort primarily to the use of only carbohydrate-based food such as cornstarch, to wean their toddlers from breast-feeding. This has led to several children getting affected by protein energy malnutrition and other associated conditions. The need to develop plant-based protein-rich weanling diets is therefore essential to ensure a balance in nutrient intake of toddlers. Growth and maintenance studies using Ricinus communis seed-diet formulations were investigated in wistar rats, to evaluate it’s potential as weanling diet. The diets were formulated using AIN 93G methods for laboratory rats during their growth, pregnancy and lactating periods. Thirty weanling male albino rats (40-60g) were utilized in this study, they were divided into five groups of six rats each based on sample treatment respectively. The groups includes; (CAS) casein diet, (BRC) boiled R. communis diet, (FRC) fermented R. communis diet, (FRC+C) fermented R. communis plus charcoal diet, and (NFD) nitrogen free diet. The rats were housed in individual metabolic cages equipped to separate faeces and urine. The growth study lasted for 21 days followed by a 7 days maintenance period. The proximate composition showed that R. communis seeds is high in protein (33.25%) and fat (37.70%). Boiling and fermentation treatments decreased the protein (23.13 and 20.37%) and fat (24.5 and 21.0%) contents, respectively. Sample-based diets were least consumed by the rats, which showed retarded growth as well, compared to CAS control and NFD diet groups. The nitrogen balanced studies showed that over 80% of the nitrogen consumed from the test diet were absorbed and retained, suggesting high utilization of the seed nitrogen.

Published in American Journal of BioScience (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12
Page(s) 42-46
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Proximate Composition, Ricinus communis, Protein Quality, Weanling Diet

References
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[2] Ekeanyanwu, R. C (2013). Evaluation of the crude protein and amino acid composition of Nigerian Monodora myristica (ehuru). Pak. J. Nutr. 12; 219-223.
[3] Onwuliri, V. A. Attah, I., and Nwankwo, J. O. (2004). Anti-nutritional Factors, essential and non essential fatty acids composition of Ugba (Pentaclethra macrophylla) seeds at different stages of processing and fermentation. J. Bio. Sci., 4: 671-675.
[4] Achi, O. K. (2005). Traditional fermented protein condiments in Nigeria. Afri. J. Biotech., 4: 1612-1621.
[5] Ezeokonkwo, C. A. (2005). Effect of roasting on nutrient composition of Terminalia catappa seed. Nig. J. Nutr. Sci., 26: 19-24.
[6] Baros, P. R., Haro, A., Munoz, J. and Martinez, J. M. E. (2004). Isolation of a natural mutant in castor with high oleic/low ricinoleic acid content in the Oil. Crop SciSoc Am., 44: 76-80.
[7] Reeves, P. G., Nielsen, F. G and Fahey, G. C. Jr (1993). AIN-93 purified diets for laboratory rodents. Final report of American Institute of Nutrition ad hoc writing committee on the reformulation of the AIN-76A rodent diet. J. Nutr., 123: 1939-1951.
[8] AOAC,(1990). Official methods of analysis (15thed). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
[9] Sosulski, F. W. and Imafidon, G. I. (1990) Amino Acid Composition and Nitrogen-to-Protein Conversion Factors for Animal and Plant Foods. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 38; 1351-1356.
[10] Obasuyi, J. O. and Nwokoro, S. O (2006). Physical and chemical properties of bread fruit (Artocarpus altilis) seeds collected from three locations in Edo state, Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition., 5: 212 -214.
[11] Obizoba, I. C (1986). Comparison of nutritive value of cereal –based diets supplemented with pulses. Nig. J. Nutr. Sci., 7: 113-118.
[12] Obizoba, I. C. and Atti, J. V. (1994). Evaluation of the effect of processing techniques on the nutrient and antinutrient contents of pearl millet (Pennisetumglaucum) seeds. Plant foods Hum. Nutr., 45: 23 -34.
[13] Ene-Obong, H. N and Obizoba, I. C (1995). Protein quality of some Nigeriantraditional diets based on African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpcarpa) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajana). Pl Fds. Hum. Nutr., 48: 293-309.
[14] Obizoba, I. C (1990). The effects of varying sprouting periods on the nutritional quality of normal yellow corn (Zea mays). Plant fds. Hum. Nutr., 40: 73-81.
[15] Obizoba, I. C (1986). Composition of nutritive value of cereal-based diets supplemented with pulses. Nig. J. Nutr. Sci., 7: 113-118.
[16] Wardlaw, G. M. Hampl, J. S., Disilvestrol, R. A. (2004). Protein in: Perspectives in nutrition, 6th ed. Mc Graw Hil Companies US pp. 225-252, 374.
[17] Whitney, E. N. and Rolfes, S. R. (1996). Understanding nutrition, 7thed, West Publishing Co. NY. Pp. 171-203.
[18] Obizoba, I. C and Nnam, G (1992). The effects of sprouting times on nutritive value of two varieties of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa). Pl. Fd. Hum. Nutr., 42: 319-327.
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    Ezim Ogechukwu Ebere, Nkwonta Chikere Godwin. (2021). Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations. American Journal of BioScience, 9(2), 42-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12

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    ACS Style

    Ezim Ogechukwu Ebere; Nkwonta Chikere Godwin. Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations. Am. J. BioScience 2021, 9(2), 42-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12

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    AMA Style

    Ezim Ogechukwu Ebere, Nkwonta Chikere Godwin. Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations. Am J BioScience. 2021;9(2):42-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12,
      author = {Ezim Ogechukwu Ebere and Nkwonta Chikere Godwin},
      title = {Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations},
      journal = {American Journal of BioScience},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {42-46},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbio.20210902.12},
      abstract = {Protein-rich weanling food products, particularly those from animal sources, are not very accessible and affordable in several developing nations in Africa. Most women resort primarily to the use of only carbohydrate-based food such as cornstarch, to wean their toddlers from breast-feeding. This has led to several children getting affected by protein energy malnutrition and other associated conditions. The need to develop plant-based protein-rich weanling diets is therefore essential to ensure a balance in nutrient intake of toddlers. Growth and maintenance studies using Ricinus communis seed-diet formulations were investigated in wistar rats, to evaluate it’s potential as weanling diet. The diets were formulated using AIN 93G methods for laboratory rats during their growth, pregnancy and lactating periods. Thirty weanling male albino rats (40-60g) were utilized in this study, they were divided into five groups of six rats each based on sample treatment respectively. The groups includes; (CAS) casein diet, (BRC) boiled R. communis diet, (FRC) fermented R. communis diet, (FRC+C) fermented R. communis plus charcoal diet, and (NFD) nitrogen free diet. The rats were housed in individual metabolic cages equipped to separate faeces and urine. The growth study lasted for 21 days followed by a 7 days maintenance period. The proximate composition showed that R. communis seeds is high in protein (33.25%) and fat (37.70%). Boiling and fermentation treatments decreased the protein (23.13 and 20.37%) and fat (24.5 and 21.0%) contents, respectively. Sample-based diets were least consumed by the rats, which showed retarded growth as well, compared to CAS control and NFD diet groups. The nitrogen balanced studies showed that over 80% of the nitrogen consumed from the test diet were absorbed and retained, suggesting high utilization of the seed nitrogen.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Ricinus communis (Castor Oil) Seed as Potential Protein Source in Weanling Diet Formulations
    AU  - Ezim Ogechukwu Ebere
    AU  - Nkwonta Chikere Godwin
    Y1  - 2021/03/30
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12
    T2  - American Journal of BioScience
    JF  - American Journal of BioScience
    JO  - American Journal of BioScience
    SP  - 42
    EP  - 46
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0167
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20210902.12
    AB  - Protein-rich weanling food products, particularly those from animal sources, are not very accessible and affordable in several developing nations in Africa. Most women resort primarily to the use of only carbohydrate-based food such as cornstarch, to wean their toddlers from breast-feeding. This has led to several children getting affected by protein energy malnutrition and other associated conditions. The need to develop plant-based protein-rich weanling diets is therefore essential to ensure a balance in nutrient intake of toddlers. Growth and maintenance studies using Ricinus communis seed-diet formulations were investigated in wistar rats, to evaluate it’s potential as weanling diet. The diets were formulated using AIN 93G methods for laboratory rats during their growth, pregnancy and lactating periods. Thirty weanling male albino rats (40-60g) were utilized in this study, they were divided into five groups of six rats each based on sample treatment respectively. The groups includes; (CAS) casein diet, (BRC) boiled R. communis diet, (FRC) fermented R. communis diet, (FRC+C) fermented R. communis plus charcoal diet, and (NFD) nitrogen free diet. The rats were housed in individual metabolic cages equipped to separate faeces and urine. The growth study lasted for 21 days followed by a 7 days maintenance period. The proximate composition showed that R. communis seeds is high in protein (33.25%) and fat (37.70%). Boiling and fermentation treatments decreased the protein (23.13 and 20.37%) and fat (24.5 and 21.0%) contents, respectively. Sample-based diets were least consumed by the rats, which showed retarded growth as well, compared to CAS control and NFD diet groups. The nitrogen balanced studies showed that over 80% of the nitrogen consumed from the test diet were absorbed and retained, suggesting high utilization of the seed nitrogen.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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