COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF LONG TERM CONSUMPTION OF COOKED, UNCOOKED DRY BEANS (Vigna unguiculata) AND SEROTONIN PRECURSOR (5-HTP) DIETS ON NEUROBEHAVIOURAL DESPAIR, SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND BODY WEIGHT CHANGE IN SWISS WHITE MICE

Purpose: Beans, the stable diet of Nigerians contains serotonin and its precursor, 5-Hydroxytryptophan in significant amounts. It was therefore the aim of this study to find out whether long term consumption of cooked and uncooked dry beans (Vigna uniguiculata) diet has effects on some neurobehavioral parameters notably; neurobehavioural despair and social behaviour using Swiss white mice as experimental animals.Method: Forty (40) CD1 mice were randomly assigned into four groups, viz; control, cooked beans diet (50% w/w), uncooked beans diet (50% w/w), while another set of mice was placed on serotonin precursor (5-HTP) diet (0.2mg/50g w/w) for thirty days. All the mice had access to clean drinking water ad libitum. Before the neurobehavioral parameters were assessed, the phytochemical analysis of the beans, LD50 of the beans (Vigna uniguiculata) and that of the serotonin precursor (5-HTP) were determined. Serotonin and serotonin precursor (5-HTP) concentration were measured. Neurobehavioral despair and social behaviour were investigated alongside food and water intake and body weight change. Involvement of serotonin pathway was investigated using the set of mice administered serotonin precursor for comparison with the beans diet fed mice. Forced swim test was used to assess depression (neurobehavioral despair) and nesting score to assess social behaviour.Results: The results showed that food intake was reduced in cooked and uncooked beans diet-fed mice when compared to control (p<0.01, respectively). There was no change in water intake and body weight when compared to control. The forced swim test showed no significant difference among the groups while the nestle score showed significant difference among the groups. The administration of serotonin precursor diet (5-HTP) produced similar results as cooked or uncooked beans, thus suggesting that serotonin may be involved in the action of beans on neurobehavioral parameters.Conclusion: In conclusion, long term consumption of beans diet does not affect depression (neurobehavioral despair), body weight change and water intake but reduced food intake and improves social behaviour. One of the active chemicals involved in these effects following beans consumption may be serotonin.