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An Unrecognized Dietary Factor for Guinea Pigs Associated with the Fibrous Fractions of Plant Products¹

Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211

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. Alfalfa holocellulose fractions enriched in hemicellulose and -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.

KEY WORDS: • growth stimulant • alfalfa • cabbage • holocellulose • cellulose

¹ A contribution of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 8047. Supported in part by NIH Grant HL 11614.

Manuscript received 22 February 1978.