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Ackee Toxin : a Riboflavin Antimetabolite?

Nature volume 186, pages 561–562 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE has occurred in Jamaica an illness known as ‘vomiting sickness’, characterized by vomiting, coma and death, which has been attributed to a toxin present in the ackee (Blighia sapida)1–3. In the course of routine assay for the protein values of human diets, a Jamaican meal containing this fruit was prepared, fed to rats, and the animals lost 26 per cent of their initial body-weight in 10 days. On a dry-weight basis, the meal contained 39 per cent green banana, 26 per cent salted cod-fish, 9 per cent coco-nut oil, 6 per cent salted pork fat, and 20 per cent ackee. Despite the high total protein content (17 per cent) of this mixture, it has a net dietary-protein value4 of zero.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutrition Research Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, London, N.W.7

    H. C. FOX & D. S. MILLER

Authors
  1. H. C. FOX
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  2. D. S. MILLER
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FOX, H., MILLER, D. Ackee Toxin : a Riboflavin Antimetabolite?. Nature 186, 561–562 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/186561b0

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