Background & aims: Inadequate knowledge and intake of a balance diet is a contributing factor of micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. Phytic acid contributes in inhibiting the bioavailability of some micronutrients. In spite of the antinutritional effect of phytic acid, it is known to exhibit some medicinal effects. This study investigated the medicinal significance of phytic acid as an indispensable anti-nutrient in diseases. Methods: Relevant scientific literatures from the major databases such as Pubmed, Medline and Google Scholar. The keywords searched and reviewed in this study were phytic acid, antinutrients, minerals, diseases and plants. Results: The published peer reviewed literatures searched showed that phytic acid, though an anti-nutrient, plays an indispensable role directly or indirectly in several disease conditions. It exhibits antioxidant function, a property that qualifies it to possess multiple medicinal values like: anti-diabetic, anticancer, antiinflammatory properties to mention a few. Its chelating property

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Sesbania sesban is widely distributed in different parts of Nigeria and is used as forage or green manure. However, the levels of antinutritional factors associated with the seed limit its use as an alternative feed for livestock. Therefore, this study determined the effect of alkaline treatments on some nutrient and antinutrient composition and in vitro protein digestibility of the seed of S. sesban. The seeds were treated by soaking (for 24 hours) and boiling (for 30 minutes) in slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or lye. Afterwards, the boiled and soaked samples were properly dried at room temperature. The samples were then analysed using standard methods for proximate analysis, antinutrients, and in vitro protein digestibility. It was revealed that crude protein content was significantly (p<0.05) higher for samples boiled in slake lime (BSL) and in lye (BL) compared to unprocessed sample (RS), whereas carbohydrate content showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in BSL compared to the RS. Regarding antinutrient content, the treatments caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in tannins (37.1-76.5%) and trypsin inhibitors (34.2-68.0%), as compared to RS. The treatments were also effective in the reduction of saponins, oxalates, phytates and cyanogenic glycosides. In vitro protein digestibility was significantly higher in the treated seeds, following the order: boiling in lye>boiling in slaked lime> soaking in slaked lime>soaking in lye. The seeds of S. sesban, if properly processed using lye, could serve as a potential alternative compound for livestock feed. The results of this research confirmed that treatments with lye, which is much less costly and more available to rural communities are comparable to those based on slaked lime and can be used interchangeably.

Background: A balanced-diet containing edible-oil has been advocated to have more of unsaturated fatty acid. The saturated nature of palm-oil (PO) has led to the recommendation that its consumption should be limited to avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the claims and counterclaims of PO consumption and the risk of CVD from biochemical perspective. Methods: Relevant published peer-review articles on PO consumption associated with risk of CVD were sorted from Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and PubMed databases. Keywords, such as “palm-oil, cardiovascular diseases, and cholesterol” were used for the search. Results: Apparent in animal studies, 52.17% support the claim that PO consumption is associated with CVD, and has been attributed to its saturated nature. According to the reports, PO consumption by virtue of its saturated nature-elicited hypercholesterolaemia, which may result to CVD. Furthermore, PO consumption may instigate fatty liver, cause narrowing blood vessels and thickening aorta of the heart, and consequently non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a serious condition that may lead to severe cirrhosis, thereby increase CVD risk. On the other hand, 47.83% refute such claims that PO consumption is not associated with CVD risk. Based on human studies, 45.45% and 54.55% support and refute, respectively the claims that PO is associated with CVD. Conclusion: PO consumption has shown to be associated with hypercholesterolaemia, elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol, hence, could instigate CVD, even though no study convincingly establishes any relationship between PO consumption and the risk of CVD. Furthermore, consumption of repeatedly heated PO (deep-frying) may instigate oxidative stress, and consequently CVD.

Sesbania sesban is widely distributed in different parts of Nigeria and is used as forage or green manure. However, the levels of antinutritional factors associated with the seed limit its use as an alternative feed for livestock. Therefore, this study determined the effect of alkaline treatments on some nutrient and antinutrient composition and in vitro protein digestibility of the seed of S. sesban. The seeds were treated by soaking (for 24 hours) and boiling (for 30 minutes) in slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or lye. Afterwards, the boiled and soaked samples were properly dried at room temperature. The samples were then analysed using standard methods for proximate analysis, antinutrients, and in vitro protein digestibility. It was revealed that crude protein content was significantly (p<0.05) higher for samples boiled in slake lime (BSL) and in lye (BL) compared to unprocessed sample (RS), whereas carbohydrate content showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in BSL compared to the RS. Regarding antinutrient content, the treatments caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in tannins (37.1-76.5%) and trypsin inhibitors (34.2-68.0%), as compared to RS. The treatments were also effective in the reduction of saponins, oxalates, phytates and cyanogenic glycosides. In vitro protein digestibility was significantly higher in the treated seeds, following the order: boiling in lye>boiling in slaked lime> soaking in slaked lime>soaking in lye. The seeds of S. sesban, if properly processed using lye, could serve as a potential alternative compound for livestock feed. The results of this research confirmed that treatments with lye, which is much less costly and more available to rural communities are comparable to those based on slaked lime and can be used interchangeably.

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