COMPARATIVE-STUDIES OF THE ALKALOIDAL COMPOSITION OF 2 MEXICAN ERYTHRINA SPECIES AND NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF THE DETOXIFIED SEEDS

The seeds of two species of Erythrina were studied in connection with their alkaloid content and nutritive value. The alkaloids present in t he seeds were the main toxic components that impede the use of the see ds as food since the whole seeds killed the experimental animals. Howe ver, the detoxified seed flour showed a good-quality protein; although the process did not destroy the trypsin inhibitors present in the see d, it did not affect the growth of the weanling rats.