title: An unrecognized dietary factor for guinea pigs associated with the fibrous fractions of plant products.
abstract: The growth rate of guinea pigs was used to assess the nutritional value of plant materials and to characterize the active component(s). Weanlings were fed for 28 days a purified diet based on soybean protein. Addition of 10 to 20% of wood pulp improved the growth rate beyond that supported by 0 to 5%. Subsequently, the basal diet contained 15% of wood cellulose. Raw cabbage, ad libitum, 5% of wheat straw and 5% of mature alfalfa, collected and dried in the laboratory, increased growth rate significantly. Several other plant products tested were inactive. Holocellulose (2.5%) prepared from alfalfa improved the growth rate while that from cabbage was minimally active. Afalfa holocellulose fractions enriched in hemicellulose and alpha-cellulose were inactive. Lyophilized cabbage and the residue which remained after extraction of frozen raw cabbage with ethyl acetate and acetone stimulated growth when fed at a level of 10%. Treatment of holocellulose with KOH, with pancreatin at pH 8 or with 0.1 m KHCO3 caused loss of activity. Storage of dry alfalfa meal for a period of 1 year resulted in loss of activity. It is concluded that a labile component of alfalfa associated with the fibrous fraction confers unique nutritional value to the fiber. Cabbage also contains a labile growth stimulant which may be associated with the fibrous fraction.
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014675:Vegetables / Q000032:analysis; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D006133:Growth Substances; D011134:Polysaccharides; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose