Neurobehavioral and Ameliorative Effect of Complan Milk and Bambara Nut on Rats Fed With Bitter Cassava – A Nutritional Approach

Cassava products have been introduced to the market in different regions of the world as part of diet, despite containing more than one toxic substance. Roots and leaves of cassava of all varieties contain cyanogenic glucoside, mainly as linamarin, but also as lotaustralin, in different concentrations in their cellular vacuoles. Twenty (20) albino Wistar rats were used for this research and were randomly selected into 4 groups of five 5 rats each. The result obtained from the study showed that there was a significant reduction in weight of the Konzo induced Wistar rats group from week 1 to week 4. A weight gain of 21.7g to 34.7g was observed in the cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed group Wistar rats when compared with the cassava-induced Konzo group Wistar rats. There was a decrease in Na+,K+, Urea, Creatinine and HCO3 in cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed group Wistar rats when compared with cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group and control group. In evaluating the motor coordination/impairment using rotarod test, cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group, cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats group and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed Wistar rats group spent a significantly less mean time 20.65±0.33, 24.93±0.67 and 25.71±0.72 respectively when compared to the control group mean time of 39.45±0.42. Also, a significant improvement in motor coordination was observed in cassava-induced Konzo and complan milk fed group Wistar rats group and cassava-induced Konzo and Bambara nut (Okpa) fed Wistar rats group when compared with cassava-induced Konzo Wistar rat group. From the histological evaluation of the brain of the Wistar rats showed neurons that are vacuolated as a result of bitter cassava and alpha motor neurons. It is hence concluded that the toxic effect of bitter cassava can be ameliorated using proteins or balanced diets such as milk and bambara nuts (Okpa).