Effect of raw field bean (Vicia faba) on amino-acid-degrading enzymes in rats and chicks.

The effects of Vicia faba diet on urinary nitrogenous compounds and on enzyme activities of pathways directly associated with amino acid metabolism were studied in rats and chicks. The urea and creatinine excretion of rats fed on V. faba was approximately 90% more than that of control rats. The V.-faba-fed rats had increased activities of liver arginase (EC 3.5.3.1), argininosuccinate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.5) and alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2). The chicks fed on V. faba also showed increased activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.3.2). The possible nature of these altered amino-acid-degrading enzyme activities is discussed.