Hepatotoxicity and biochemical evaluation of a novel breakfast food produced from the blend of fonio (Digitaria iburua Stapf) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) in albino rats

Abstract Background The production of novel foods from underutilized nutritious tropical crops is increasing; however, the toxicological studies are sparse. In this study, the safety of the breakfast food produced from the blend of fonio and pigeon pea was examined by evaluating the biochemical and toxicological parameters of the breakfast food using Wistar albino rats. Twenty male Wistar albino rats subdivided into 4 groups of 5 were separately fed with four food samples (100% fonio, 80:20 fonio:pigeon pea, standard rat feed (control) and a commercial brand of corn flake) for 28 days after which the animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for analyses. Body weight, blood glucose, biochemical, and hematological parameters were examined during the experimental period. Results The feeding of rats with the four diets did not cause mortality and adverse toxicity during the experimental period. Steady body weight gain was observed in fonio-pigeon pea fed rats, and slight changes were obtained in percentage blood glucose. There was no significant difference in the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, mean corpuscular volume, platelet, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, SOD, and malondialdehyde of the group fed with fonio-pigeon pea diet as compared with the control group. Furthermore, significant (p < 0.05) lower levels of density lipoprotein, triacylglyceride, and cholesterol were observed in the fonio-pigeon pea-fed rats than the control group. The liver function marker of fonio-pigeon pea-fed-rat and the control showed no significant difference. Conclusion The study showed no severe toxicity in the test animals, although a mild loss of liver parenchyma and variation in size and shape of nuclei were observed in the group fed with the fonio-pigeon pea diet.