Quantitative High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Neurotoxin

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is leguminous crop cultivated in India,Bangladesh and Ethiopia, where it is a major protein source for people in the lowest income groups[1] .However, excessive ingestion of this pulse can lead to irreversible paralysis of the legs-a disease known as neurolathyrism or lathyrism.the causative agent was reported to be the non-protein amino acids,β-N-L-oxalyl-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP, sometimes, referred to as BOAA)[2]. The α-isomer of ODAP, α-N-oxaly 1-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, has been shown to be nontoxic to chicks and mice[3]. Lathyrus sativus shows good adaptation to the low rainfall conditions of northwestern China. It grows also in poor soil and is resistant to salt and flood. Our group was exploring to breed low or zero toxin varieties of Lathyrus sativus as grain crops for human consumption and as protein-rich feed for animals. So it is necessary to develop a method to detemine the toxin suitablefor differenth pu rpose.……