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Favism-inducing toxins in broad beans (Vicia faba) biological activities of broad beans extracts in favism — Sensitive subjects

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Abstract

Ingestion of broad bean seeds will precipitate an acute haemolytic anaemia (favism) in certain sensitive subjects.

Aqueous extracts from both fresh and dried mature broad bean seeds, obtained from a favism-endemic area in Iran, were incubated with blood from favism-sensitive and control subjects. Changes in the reduced glutathione content of red blood cells were determined as an index of toxicity. The results showed that:

  1. (a)

    The toxic principles in broad beans were at least partially water soluble.

  2. (b)

    The seed coats of dry mature seeds and the flesh from fresh seeds had low toxicity.

  3. (c)

    The immature whole seeds and the seed coats of fresh mature seeds were toxic.

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Author notes

  1. Jalal Jamalian

    Present address: Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Pahlavi University, Shiraz, Iran

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science, University of Reading, England

    Jalal Jamalian, Francis Aylward & Bertram J. F. Hudson

Authors
  1. Jalal Jamalian
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  2. Francis Aylward
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  3. Bertram J. F. Hudson
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Jamalian, J., Aylward, F. & Hudson, B.J.F. Favism-inducing toxins in broad beans (Vicia faba) biological activities of broad beans extracts in favism — Sensitive subjects. Plant Food Hum Nutr 27, 213–219 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01092361

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01092361

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