REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY AND NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON MAHUA OIL (MADHUCA-LATIFOLIA)

Mahua (Madhuca latifolia, Sapotaceae) seed oil is a common ingredient of hydrogenated fat in India. It is obtained from the seed kernels (which contain 45% oil, w/w), and is a pale yellow, semi-solid fat at room temperature. It has palmitic (19%), stearic (15%), oleic (42%) and linoleic (24%) as major fatty acids. The physicochemical parameters of the oil are similar to those of other edible oils. The unsaponifiable fraction contains several unidentified polyenes. Nutritional studies were carried out in groups of 15 weanling albino rats of each sex, fed for 14 wk on a 20% protein diet, adequate in all vitamins and minerals, containing 10% mahua oil. A similar (control) group was simultaneously maintained on the same basic diet containing 10% groundnut oil. The growth, fat absorption, and retention of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were similar in the two groups, as were the lipid profiles of the serum, liver and heart. Multigeneration reproduction studies in groups of 15 rats of each sex, fed a diet containing 10% mahua oil, as used in the above study, indicated poor reproductive performance in the second generation. All the male rats became sterile. Histological studies indicated bilateral testicular atrophy with degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules in the affected animals. On withdrawal of mahua oil from the diet and rehabilitation, the male animals regained their fertility. These results indicate temporary male sterility on feeding mahua oil to rats. No other adverse toxicological effects were found.