Q. Explain Use of Toxic amino acids?
Lathyrus sativus (kesari dhal) seeds contain toxic amino acid beta-oxalyl aminoalanine (BOAA), is considered to be responsible for the disease lathyrism. It is an excitotoxin, which is a toxin capable of over stimulating and destroying nerve cells, thus contributing to the development of the uppermotor neuron disease. The disease has been especially occurring in parts of the States Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra and in countries like Bangladesh where the pulse used to be consumed in larger quantities. Consumption of the pulse in lower quantities would result in painful spasms in the calf muscles, heaviness of the lower limbs, pain in the knee and ankle joints and difficulty in walking. The toxic amino acid from Lathyrus sativus can be reduced by steeping the seeds in water and discarding that water, or by using a process similar to parboiling of paddy.