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  • Title: Toxic effects of Borassus Flabellifer (palmyrah palm) in rats.
    Author: Arseculeratne SN, Panabokke RG, Tennekoon GE, Bandunatha CH.
    Journal: Br J Exp Pathol; 1971 Oct; 52(5):524-37. PubMed ID: 5125266.
    Abstract:
    The fleshy, food storage scales of the young shoot of the palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer) is a food item, consumed by the people of this country. This material, kottakilangu when fed to rats for 5-10 days, produced toxic symptoms which included ataxia, immobility of the hind limbs, laboured respiration and death. The histological abnormalities were mainly confined to the liver, which showed severe congestion of the centrilobular region, hydropic and fatty degeneration. Certain batches of kottakilangu produced in addition, reduction of succinic dehydrogenase activity of the liver when examined histochemically. Liver mitochondria from intoxicated rats showed a reduction of succinic oxidase and to a lesser extent, succinic dehydrogenase activity in vitro Aqueous extracts of kottakilangu also produced inhibition of succinic oxidase activity of normal rat liver mitochondria in vitro. This activity was heat stable and dependent on the concentration of the extract. It was concluded that kottakilangu has at least 2 toxic factors, a lethal factor and a mitochondrion-damaging factor. The possible significance of this food in human nutrition in relation to liver disease is pointed out.
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