Nutritional value and cholesterol lowering effect of wild lettuce (Launaea taxaracifolia) leaf as a source of protein

Abstract

The nutritive value and cholesterol-lowering effect of wild lettuce (Launaea taxaracifolia) leaf when fed as a source of protein was assessed by using male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) as an index of evaluation. The rats were fed on both methionine supplemented and unsupplemented wild lettuce leaf diets and elicited significant plasma hypocholesterolemic response (p < 0.05) at all levels of inclusions. There were no significant differences in the cholesterol levels as determined in some visceral organs namely liver, kidney and heart of animals fed on the wild lettuce diets (p > 0.05). Total lipid levels determined in the liver, kidney and heart of the animals fed on both wild lettuce leaf protein diets and casein-based diets ( as control) were comparatively similar. However, lipid levels in the plasma of the animals maintained on the wild lettuce diets were significantly higher than those fed on the casein diets (p < 0.05). Total plasma protein was not affected by feeding animals with wild lettuce leaf. However, the rats fed with the lettuce leaf diets (both methionine supplemented and unsupplemented) gained comparatively lower growth response in terms of weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) when compared with animals on the respective control diets (p <0.05)