Effects on the Growth of Mice of Orally Administered Lectin from Taro Tuber (Colocasia antiquorum)

• Published in: Journal of Home Economics of Japan Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 211 - 218
• Main Authors: SEO, Young-Joo, TSUKAMOTO, Ikuyo, MIYOSHI, Masamitsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japan Society of Home Economics 15.03.1991
• Subjects: energy metabolism; growth rate; nutrient absorption; physical activity; small intestine; Taro tuber lectin
• ISSN: 0913-5227; 1882-0352
• DOI: 10.11428/jhej1987.42.211

We examined the adverse effects of Taro tuber lectin administered to mice not by stomach intubation but by ad libitum feeding after being mixed into a basal casein diet. The aim of this work was to complete our studies on the in vivo nutritional effects of Taro tuber lectin on the growth of mice, and the effects on the physical activity and energy metabolism of mice which had ingested Taro tuber lectin. Crude and pure lectins were separately ingested for 6-9 days by ddY male mice weighing approximately 15 g, the average daily intakes being 142.1 mg of crude lectin and 71.5 mg of pure lectin. Body weight and food intake were recorded daily, and at the end of the experiment, the internal organs were weighed and the intestines observed under a light microscope. The results elucidated the mechanism by which the toxic effects of this lectin on physiological functions are brought about. The addition of this lectin to a diet resulted in the decreased absorption of dietary nutrients in the small intestine, and the resulting malabsorption. induced a reduction in food consumption, which was followed by growth retardation and a tendency toward diminished physical activity and energy metabolism. These results provide substantial evidence that this lectin is responsible, at least in part, for the nutritional inferiority of Taro tuber because of its interference with the intestinal absorption of nutrients.