Nutritional Study of Non-digestible Polysaccharides Contained in Flea Seed Husk

It is well known that flea seed husk contains about 64% of non-digestible polysaccharide and also this husk has some laxative action. Then the nutritional studies of this husk were undertaken to confirm its suitability as dietetic food. For the experiment, 60 male rats were divided into three groups, namely, control, 3 and 10% husk added diets groups, and animals were fed for 3 months with these diets and every day the body weight, and weights of feed intaken, of water drunken and also of feces excreted were measured. The lower body weight gain was observed only with 10% husk added diet group, and 3% group showed almost the same growth as that of control group. By the administration of this husk, the amounts of feces excreted were increased, but there was no sign of diarrhea. The weight of organ was measured about 10 organs, but there were no significant differences between these weights was of normal and those of 3% group, while these were significant between normal and 10% group. The histological examination was also done with these organs of three groups, but the evident changes were not recognized.