Effect of Kesari Dal on Kidney Enzymes in Mice

Kesari dal (known as Lakhi Dal) is one of the food adulterants which is also used as food by poor people in India. It is now a well-known fact that kesari dal in diet leads to lathyrism. Trypsin inhibitors, and a toxin β-N-Oxalyl aminoacid have been isolated from kesari dal by previous workers. Toxicity studies earlier reported were mainly based on anatomical findings. They do not reveal details of structural changes which may be often missed in routine experiments. Kesari dal taken orally is absorbed through the intestine and metabolic products of it are ultimately excreted by kidney. If the end metabolic products of kesari dal are toxic, they may produce some changes in renal cells, affecting their normal functioning. Since enzyme analysis is an useful indicator of the metabolic activity of tissues, it was thought of interest to investigate the effect of kesari dal on kidney in mice by studying the enzymes applying biochemical and histochemical methods.