A novel potentiometric sensor based on ionophore (Cd(NH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2NH2)Ag3(CN)5) for the determination of β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) is developed. The ODAP-selective membrane sensor demonstrates high sensitivity and short response time. The detection limit of the ODAP-selective membrane sensor is about 2 × 10(-6) mol L (-1) and the response time is shorter than 6 s....

Introduction The Lathyrus/lathyrism challenge is broad-based by its nature and requires multi-disciplinary efforts of specialists in the field of epidemiology, neurology, biochemistry, chemistry, nutrition, and agronomy. The role of chemists is in systematic determination of minor natural products in L. sativus seeds so that the sole responsibility of ß-ODAP for neurolathyrism is ascertained . ...

Mammalian neurolathyrism is a progressive and degenerative disease of central nervous system originating from excessive consumption of Lafhyrus seeds, particularly those of L. sativus. Rao et al. [I] have isolated P-N-oxalyl-L-a&diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) from the seeds of L. satiuus and shown this substance to be the neurotoxin [ 1, 21 Characterization of the biochemical effect and cellular ...

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an important legume crop grown mainly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This underutilized legume can withstand harsh environmental conditions including drought and flooding. During drought-induced famines, this protein-rich legume serves as a food source for poor farmers when other crops fail under harsh environmental conditions; however, its use is limit...

20 Lathyrus cicera is a grain legume that is well adapted to grow in low rainfall regions. 21 However, it contains a neurotoxin, 3-(-N-oxylyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), 22 which can cause paralysis of the lower limbs, known as “lathyrism”. An experiment was 23 conducted to measure the nutrient content and ileal digestible amino acid content of a recently 24 released low ODAP lathyrus ...

It is nearly four decades since the discovery of ODAP as the major neurotoxic constituent of Lathyrus sativus seeds. However, several basic questions relating to neurolathyrism still remain unanswered. We are unable to convince several governments to ban the cultivation of the pulse and to take on a more serious approach to introducing the low toxin varieties. Meanwhile, farmers continue to gro...

Excitatory amino acids and their receptors play an important role in both normal synaptic transmission and excitotoxic-mediated neuronal death. In the present investigation we have prepared a series of glutamate analogs and examined the pharmacological specificity with which they interact with excitatory amino acid receptors. Included within this group of compounds is a potent excitotoxic amino...

The use of the two closely related species, Lathyrus cicera and L. sativus, as grain legumes for human and animal consumption, dates to the Neolithic period. Due to its tolerance to harsh environmental conditions L. sativus is still used widely for human food in Ethiopia and the Indian sub-continent. Cultivation has decreased in many other regions. The grain of both L. cicera and L. sativus con...

Lathyrus sativus is a grain legume high in protein (25-30%) that can be grown under limited moisture conditions. However, the Government of India has imposed a ban on its sale because of the association with human neurolathyrism in the population subsisting on it. Over the years, by mutation and conventional breeding, attempts were made to reduce the amount of oxalyl diamino propionic acid (ODA...

Lathyrus sativus L. (Grass pea) is the source for cheap and nutritious food choice in drought and famine susceptible zones in greater part of North India and Africa. The non-protein amino acid β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) has been known for decades for its potent neurotoxic effect, causing irreversible neurodegenerative disease "neurolathyrism", present in both seed and leaf ...