The effects of low-dose gamma-irradiation on the wholesomeness of mangoes ( Mangifera indica ) as determined by short-term feeding studies using rats

Abstract

1. A control diet and diets containing 150 g non-irradiated or 150 g irradiated mangopulp/kg were given to female rats from day 15 of the gestation period until weaning in trials 1 and 2, and from 40 d before mating until 28 d post weaning in trial 3.2. Food intake and dry-matter digestibility were similar with all diets.3. There were no significant differences between animals given the different dietary regimens in the daily body-weight changes of weanling males, pups, nursing females or females during the immediate postlactation period.4. No differences in haematological or blood chemistry values were found which could be attributed to the ingestion of irradiated mangoes. There was no evidence for the presence of any toxic substances in the irradiated-mango-pulp diet.5. Gross pathological observations revealed no aberrations which could be related to the ingestion of irradiated mangoes.6. It may be concluded that the wholesomeness of mangoes was not affected by gammairradiation at a dose of 75 krd.