A look at the brighter facets of β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, homoarginine and the grass pea

The low incidence of neurolathyrism, its absence in several communities traditionally consuming Lathyrus sativus and the likely benefits of its inclusion as part of a normal diet are reviewed. The metabolism/detoxification of ODAP which is unique to humans may be a crucial factor in this regard. The presence of homoarginine in the pulse which has received scant attention in the past could make this an invaluable pulse since it could contribute to a sustained generation of NO. NO is well recognized for its role in cardiovascular physiology and general well-being and thus a daily dietary intake of homoarginine through small quantities of L sativus may be of advantage and deserves to be exploited. The detoxification of ODAP in humans could spotlight the pulse further for its non-neurotoxic attributes. Activation of PKC by ODAP adds a new dimension to explore its possible therapeutic potentials in areas such as Alzheimer's disease, hypoxia, and long term potentiation. These novel approaches to both ODAP and homoarginine might entirely change our perception of this poor man's pulse. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.