Effects of roasting and γ-irradiated Peanuts on Toxicological Parameters of Wistar Rats

Effects of roasting and γ-irradiated (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kGy) peanuts on toxicological parameters were evaluated through feeding of Wistar rats fed for a period of eight weeks. Physical appearance, body weight, hematological, serum biochemistry and tissue pathological parameters were determined using standard methods. During the eight weeks, Wistar rats showed good physical appearance and steady weight gain, and no mortality was recorded. Haematological analysis of the Wistar rats gave no indication of anemia; packed cell volume (41.09-46.14%), haemoglobin concentration (14.01-14.80 g/L), red blood cell (11.58-12.87 µ/L), mean corpuscular volume (30.58-37.85 fl), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (11.22-12.23 pg.). Serum blood parameters including albumin, globulin, creatine and blood urea nitrogen of Wistar rats fed with rat pellet, non- and γ-irradiated peanut were not significantly different. However, total protein (4.99-5.38 g/dL), cholesterol (55.67-60.50 mg/dL), alanine amino transferase (62.56-66.56 IU/L) and aspartate amino transferase (80.50-85.50 IU/L) increased significantly (p<0.05) during the period of evaluation. Histopathological examination of heart, liver, lungs, intestine, and spleen revealed diffuse mild degeneration of seminiferous tubular epithelium, mild congestion of hepatic sinusoids, mild hyperplasia of goblet cells and infiltration of the lamina propria by eosinophil and lymphocytes, and sub-capsular edema. Roasted γ-irradiated peanut did not cause changes of any toxicological significance in Wistar rats.