What are the causes of Lathyrism?

What are the causes of Lathyrism?

Lathyrism is a disease caused by eating seeds of species of Lathyrus (the grass pea), mainly L. sativus (the chickling pea or khesari), L. cicera (flat-podded vetch) and L. clymenum (Spanish vetchling).

What do you mean by Lathyrism?

: a neurotoxic disorder chiefly affecting people and domestic animals (such as cows and horses) that is characterized especially by irreversible spastic paralysis of the hind or lower limbs and that results from poisoning by an amino acid found in the seeds of some legumes (genus Lathyrus and especially L. sativus)

Is Lathyrus sativus harmful?

It is poisonous to nerves. It can cause muscle rigidity, muscle spasms, weakness, paralysis of leg muscles, weak heartbeat, decreased breathing, seizures, and death. Lathyrus poisoning and its complications are rare in western countries, yet they have been documented for more than a century in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Is Khesari banned in India?

The year was 1961 when the Indian government banned the Khesari Dal deeming it unfit for consumption. The cause of the ban was that a neurological disorder called lathyrism was linked to it. The dal was banned for half a century before states began to rethink the ban. Khesari has been dubbed as the poor man’s pulse.

Why Khesari dal is banned?

India prohibited the sale and storage of khesari in any form since 1961, based on suggestions made by scientists and epidemiologists that lathyrus consumed in high amount for prolonged periods could cause lathyrism — a condition that could lead to paralysis of the lower limbs due to the presence of a neurotoxin, amino- …

What is the common name of Lathyrus?

Pictures

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Flowers Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea); flowers. As the specific name implies, the flowers of L. odortaus are very fragrant.
Flowers Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea); flowers. As the specific name implies, the flowers of L. odortaus are very fragrant.

What is Lathyrus used for?

Lathyrus is a plant. People use it as medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, Lathyrus sativus is used in unleavened Indian bread. Lathyrus seeds are eaten as food and used as animal fodder throughout the world.

Can you eat the whole sugar snap pea?

If you’ve never tried raw sugar snap peas, you’re in for a treat. You can eat the whole pod, with the peas inside, and if you can get them fresh from the farmer’s market, they will be so impressively sweet.

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