Toxicological evaluation of banana and milk combination as incompatible diet - An experimental exploration of Samyoga viruddha concept.

BACKGROUND

Food is the basic requirement and an essential part of all living beings which sustains life. A lot of emphasize has been given to food in the classics of Ayurveda and a detailed description of food which are both wholesome and unwholesome have been described. Viruddhahara (incompatible food) is a unique concept explained in Ayurveda which, in long run, may be harmful to the body.

OBJECTIVE(S): Intake of Kadaliphala (Musa paradisiaca. Linn, a variety of banana) and cow milk is an example of Samyoga Viruddha (incompatibility with reference to combination of things). This combination is routinely consumed by people. The present study was planned to evaluate the toxicological implication of their combination on wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A subacute toxicity study was conducted on Wistar rats following the repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study in rodents, 407 - OECD guidelines. Different haematological and biochemical parameters along with histopathology of important organs were carried out to assess the toxicological implication of the combination.

RESULTS

Repeated administration of the combination of Kadaliphala (Banana) and cow milk showed statistically significant increase in SGOT & urea and statistically significant decrease in creatinine. Significant decrease was observed in the food intake, faecal wet weight and faecal water in the 7th day of study, food conversion ratio in the 14th day of study, in the food intake, faecal wet weight and faecal water in the 21st day of study and significant decrease in the food conversion ratio in the 28th day of study. In histopathological examination, the test drug administered group showed mild to moderate myocarditis in the sections from heart. In sections from liver of two rats of test group, diffused micro fatty changes were observed. In sections from spleen; mild to moderate increase in the white pulp portion was observed.

CONCLUSION

Marked variation in SGOT, urea and creatinine levels and alteration in sections of heart, liver and spleen are indicative of mild toxicological implications of the combination of banana and milk. Continuous intake of this incompatible combination may hence prove harmful to the body.