DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i09.003

Pages: 3481-3483

Lathyrus sativus (khesari/ tohda or grass pea) is a highly nutritive legume crop containing 31 per cent protein, 41 per cent carbohydrate, 17 percent total dietary fiber. The protein content of khesari or grasspea seeds is highest among the other Indian pulses. It is high resistant to insect-pests and is drought-tolerant legume crop. It is often considered a lifesaver crop mainly in the in the drought affected areas of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and karnataka. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in in all the members of 21 different families of eight different villages of Rewa (Panasi, Kostha, Jirla, Tyotha, Sirmour, Mohali) and Raisen (Goharganj, Gairatganj) districts were examined for their source of income, medical history, diet pattern and prevalence and stages of the disease. The characteristics symptoms of lathyrism like muscle weakness, spasticity, paraplegia, stiffness of joints, numbness, clumsiness in gait and pain in lumber region were also recorded. Samples of blood of patients and normal volunteers were collected from the all patients and normal volunteers were than analyzed for protein, toxin β-OAA and minerals (copper, zinc and manganese). Our study indicate that the pulse is still cultivated and consumed in villages of Rewa and Raisen district however regular consumption is reduced. Biochemical analysis of blood samples shows significant difference in β-OAA and mineral content between lathyrism patients and normal volunteers.