Reproduction studies in the rat with Shea oleine and hardened shea oleine

Shea oleine is an oil fraction derived from the nut of the tree Butyrosperm um parkii, which grows in central and western Africa. There are several use s of shea oleine including its use as a frying oil and, after hardening, in margarine and toffee fat. This investigation was performed to examine the toxicity of 7 or 15% hardened shea oleine in comparison with 7 or 15% unhar dened shea oleine and various commercially available materials, sheanut and palm oils, cocoa butter and toffee powder following dietary administration to rats during pre-mating, mating, pregnancy and offspring weaning in two separate investigations. Reproduction was assessed using number of litters and pups born plus survival and body weights at birth and at weaning on day 21. Skeletal evaluation using X-ray, clinical pathology and a macroscopic examination were also performed for F-1 rats. Study measures for parent ani mals comprised evaluation of body weight, food consumption, clinical pathol ogy, organ weights and macroscopic examination. Fatty acids and hydrocarbon levels were measured and an evaluation for lipogranulomata was made for va rious tissues. Results showed that shea oleine, whether unhardened or harde ned, produced no evidence of reproduction toxicity and gave a similar profi le to the other commercially available materials used in this study in the rat. Minor findings with shea oleine were not related to reproduction perfo rmance but comprised slightly reduced body weight gain and reduced choleste rol and raised alkaline phosphatase levels. None of the findings in this st udy were considered to be of toxicological significance. Thus, no evidence of reproduction toxicity was seen for both unhardened and hardened shea ole ine in this investigation in the rat at levels equating to greater than 7.5 g/kg/day. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.