Meat Science 93 (2013) 821–826

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Meat Science
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Effect of a supplementation of Euphorbia heterophylla on nutritional meat quality of

Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus L.)
N'Goran David Vincent Kouakou a, Jean-François Grongnet b, Nogbou Emmanuel Assidjo c, Eric Thys d,
Pierre-Guy Marnet b, Daniel Catheline e, Philippe Legrand e, Maryline Kouba b,⁎
a
Département de Formation et de Recherche Agriculture et Ressources animales, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët Boigny, B.P. 1313 Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
b
Unité Mixte Recherche (UMR) PEGASE INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
c
Département de Formation et de Recherche Génie chimique Agro-alimentaire, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët Boigny, B.P. 1313 Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
d
Institut of Tropical Medecine, Department of Animal Health, Nationalestraat 155-B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
e
Laboratoire de Biochimie-Nutrition Humaine, Agrocampus Ouest-INRA 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The aim of the present work was to study the effect of dietary supplementation of Euphorbia heterophylla on
Received 19 May 2012 the quality of the Guinea pig meat. Forty guinea pigs were divided into two groups fed ad libitum during
Received in revised form 10 November 2012 46 days a Panicum maximum diet (Panicum diet) or a mixed diet (75% Panicum maximum + 25% Euphorbia
Accepted 19 November 2012
heterophylla) (Paneuphorbia diet) to compare their effects on performances and on the composition of guinea
pig tissues and carcass. Daily weight gain, liver weight, carcass yield, and the lipid content of both the carcass
Keywords:
Guinea pigs
and the perirenal fat were significantly increased by the Paneuphorbia diet. Feeding Paneuphorbia diet in-
Euphorbia heterophylla creased (P b 0.05) the n-3 PUFA content in perirenal fat, muscle, liver and in the carcass and decreased
Omega 3 fatty acids (P b 0.05) the n-6/n-3 ratios in all these tissues and the carcass. In conclusion, this study shows that Euphorbia
Meat quality heterophylla is a source of n-3 fatty acids which can improve significantly the n-3 PUFA content of Guinea pig
meat and carcass.
© 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction breeders associate Euphorbia heterophylla, a weed commonly known

Considered in developed countries as pets, guinea pig is native to the
Andes where its meat has been eaten for thousands of years (Zaldivar,
1997). The meat is healthy and delicious. Its protein content is about
20% and its fat content is about 8%, which is interesting from a nutrition-
al point of view (Rosenfeld, 2008). Guinea pig breeding is an economical
source of animal proteins for the poor and malnourished humans
in South America, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa (Lammers,
Carlson, Zdorkowski, & Honeyman, 2009). Guinea pig advantages are
prolificity and rusticity (Cicogna, 2000; Manjeli, Hardouin & Thys,
1997; Tchoumboue, Njwe, & Teguia, 1998: Hardouin & Thys, 1997;
Zaldivar, 1997). Guinea pigs can be an additional source of family in-
come. However, one major problem of Guinea pig breeding in Saharan
Africa is the low growth rate (3 to 4 g/day) and the small size of adults
(Manjeli et al., 1998; Nuwanyakpa, Lukefahr, Gudahl, & Ngoupayou,
1997), due to the diets being based on Panicum maximum (Kenfack,
Tchoumboue, Kamtchouing, & Ngoula, 2006). These diets lead to a
low productivity because of chronic malnutrition (Kouakou, Thys,
Danho, Assidjo, & Grongnet, 2012). As a solution, several guinea pig
⁎ Corresponding author at: Agrocampus Ouest, Département Sciences de l'Animal 65
rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France. Tel.: +33 223485367; fax: +33
223485900.
E-mail address: maryline.kouba@agrocampus-ouest.fr (M. Kouba).
as “poison milk” with Panicum maximum to improve the productivity
of guinea pigs, in particular during lactation.
Originated from tropical and subtropical America, Euphorbia
heterophylla is a weed that also occurs in Africa and Asia. It is consid-
ered as a toxic plant for humans. In West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana,
southern Togo, southern Nigeria), it is a serious problem because it
can grow among many cultivations. In the Ivory Coast, it is found in
70% of cotton fields (Ipou, Marmotte, Kadio, Ake, & Toure, 2004).
The duration of Euphorbia heterophylla life is about 45 to 50 days
and consequently it can have many reproductive cycles per year.
The nutritional value of Euphorbia heterophylla was determined in
1985 by the Laboratory Central of Nutrition and Food in Abidjan
(Ivory Coast) and Bindelle et al. (2007) showed that it has a good
crude protein content (16% to 27% of DM) and a fat content of 7.7% of
DM. It is very good forage for Guinea pigs. In fact, its high availability,
its palatability, its high digestibility and its low fiber content (22% of
DM) make this weed one of the most ingested by Guinea pigs in Africa
(Bindelle, Kinsama, Picron, Umba di M'Balu, Kindele, & Buldgen, 2009;
Bindelle et al., 2007; Kouakou, Thys, Assidjo, & Grongnet, 2010). Its
high αlinolenic acid content (ALA, C18:3 n-3) is higher than in flax
(Linum usitatissimum) (Earle, Mcguire, Mallan, Bagby, & Wolff, 1960).
If the association of Euphorbia heterophylla and Panicum maximum
significantly improves digestibility, fecundity, birth weight and weaning
weight in guinea pigs (Bindelle et al., 2007; Bindelle et al., 2009;

0309-1740/$ – see front matter © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.11.036
822 N.D.V. Kouakou et al. / Meat Science 93 (2013) 821–826

Kouakou et al., 2010), there is no data available on the effect of this
mixed diet on the nutritional quality of Guinea pig meat. The aim of
this work was to study the effect of supplementation of Euphorbia
heterophylla on the quantity and quality of the fat in Guinea pig meat.
2. Experimental procedures
2.1. Animals and diets
The animals were reared and slaughtered in compliance with the
regulations for the care and use of animals in research.
Forty primiparous not pregnant female Guinea pigs were obtained
from the experimental farm of the Institut National Polytechnique
Félix Houphouët Boigny, Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire). The Guinea
pigs were randomly assigned to one the following diets: one diet was
composed of pure Guinea grass Panicum maximum (Panicum diet) and
the other one was a mix of 75% Panicum maximum and 25% Euphorbia
heterophylla (Paneuphorbia diet). The Guinea pig weight was 545 ±
113 g and 523 ± 113 g respectively for the Panicum and Paneuphorbia
diets. Diet composition was analyzed according to Association of Official
Analytical Chemists (AOAC) (2006) (Table 1). Animals were reared in
two cages (one per diet) with 10 dm2 per animal. Guinea pigs had ad
libitum access to feed and water for 46 days before slaughter. Daily
intake was recorded per group. The animals received regular vitamin
C from orange pieces introduced into their cages and were weighed
each week before food distribution.
carcasses and samples were vacuum-packaged, frozen and stored at
−18 °C for approximately one week prior to analyses. The frozen car-
casses were ground (Hobart grinder 4346, USA) using an accessory
with 7 mm holes, followed by one with finer holes (2 mm) to obtain
homogenous samples.
2.3. Chemical analyses
Lipids were extracted from samples of Tibialis cranialis, the ground
carcass, the liver, the perirenal adipose tissue, and the diets, using the
procedure of Delsal (1944). Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were pre-
pared with boron trifluoride methanol according to Morrison and Smith
(1964) and analyzed on an Agilent Technologies 6890 N gas chromato-
graph (Bios Analytic, Toulouse, France). Identification of FA methyl
esters was based on retention times obtained for FA methyl esters pre-
pared from FA standards. Results were expressed as percentages of total
fatty acids.
2.4. Statistical analyses
Differences between treatments were examined with one-way
ANOVA using STATA (2008). All guinea pigs by treatment were the ex-
perimental unit. Fixed factor was Euphorbia heterophylla supplementa-
tion (without Euphorbia heterophylla vs. + Euphorbia heterophylla).
3. Results

2.2. Sample collection 3.1. Chemical and fatty acid composition of the experimental feeds

Guinea pigs were fasted during 12 h and were then weighed just be-
fore slaughter. Guinea pigs were slaughtered by electrical stunning and
exsanguination. Immediately after slaughter, the head and the legs
were severed from the body, forelegs were cut at the level of wrists
and hind legs at the ankles. Then the fur was removed and the carcass
eviscerated. Eviscerated carcasses were weighed. Livers were weighed
and samples of liver, perirenal fat and Tibialis cranialis muscle were
taken. Then, the day after slaughter, these samples and the eviscerated
carcasses were sent by plane to France at the Laboratory of Biochemistry
and Human Nutrition of Agrocampus Ouest at Rennes where the
Table 1
Chemical composition and fatty acid profile of Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla.
Panicum maximum Euphorbia heterophylla
The chemical composition of the two experimental feeds is
presented in Table 1. Panicum maximum typically presents low contents
of total lipids and crude proteins and a high fibre content. In contrast,
Euphorbia heterophylla presents high contents of protein and fat, and a
low content of dry matter. The fatty acid profiles of these feeds were
also very different. The SFA and MUFA proportions were lower in
Euphorbia heterophylla than in Panicum maximum. Panicum maximum
had ten times more oleic acid than Euphorbia heterophylla. By contrast,
the polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage was 42.8% higher in Euphorbia
heterophylla, with twice as much linolenic acid, as Panicum maximum.
Indeed, the n-3 polyunsatured fatty acid proportion in Euphorbia
heterophylla was twice as much as in Panicum maximum and its n-6
polyunsaturated fatty acid proportion was 30% lower than in Panicum
maximum.

Dry matter (DM) % 28.9 20.5 3.2. Productive performances

Chemical analyses (g/100 g dry matter)
Crude proteins 11.3 17.1 Performances and carcass data are presented in Table 2. Diets
Fat 3.9 7.0
Cellulose 28.4 22.3
had no effect (P > 0.05) on food intake. Feeding guinea pigs with the
Fatty acid composition (% of total fatty acids)a Paneuphorbia diet led to a four times higher weight gain, a 18.8%
SFA 26.8 23.6
C16:0 22.5 19.3
C18:0 2.6 2.3 Table 2
MUFA 23.2 5.0 Food intake (g of DMa/animal/day), performances and carcass data of guinea pigs fed
C16:1 n-9 1.8 1.3 Panicum maximum (Panicum diet) or Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla
C18:1 n-9 20.2 2.7 (Paneuphorbia diet) (n = 20 per diet).
PUFA 50.0 71.4
Panicum Paneuphorbia Diet effect
C18:2 n-6 21.4 15.2
C18:3 n-3 27.0 55.4 Daily food intake 51.6 ± 2.8 53.5 ± 5.0 NS
Σn-3 FA 27.9 56.0 Initial body weight (g) 544.9 ± 113.3 523.5 ± 112.9 NS
Σn-6 FA 22.1 15.5 Final body weight (g) 562.5 ± 95.4 594.0 ± 108.1 NS
Fatty acid ratios Weight gain (g/day) 0.4 ± 0.2 1.6 ± 0.5 ⁎⁎⁎
Σn-6 FA/Σn-3 FA 0.8 0.3 Carcass characteristics:
PUFA/SFA 2.5 3.0 Carcass weight (g) 196.4 ± 39.1 219.1 ± 41.1 NS
Liver weight (g) 13.8 ± 2.2 16.4 ± 2.4 ⁎⁎
SFA: saturated fatty acids. ⁎⁎⁎
Carcass yield (%) 34.8 ± 1.9 36.8 ± 1.4
MUFA: monounsaturated fatty acids.
PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acids. NS: no significant difference (P > 0.05).
a
Σn-3 FA: sum of (n-3) fatty acids. : DM: Dry matter.
Σn-6 FA: sum of (n-6) fatty acids. ⁎⁎ P b 0.01.
a
Only fatty acids which percentage is higher than 1. ⁎⁎⁎ P b 0.001.
 N.D.V. Kouakou et al. / Meat Science 93 (2013) 821–826 823

higher liver weight and a 5.8% better carcass yield (P b 0.05), even Table 4
though the carcass weight was not affected by the diet. Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of muscle tibialis cranialis of guinea pigs
fed Panicum maximum (Panicum diet) or Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla
(Paneuphorbia diet) (n = 20 per diet).
3.3. Total lipid content
Panicum Paneuphorbia Diet effect

Total lipid contents of the muscle tibialis cranialis and the liver were Total lipids (g/100 g) 2.5 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 0.8 NS
not affected by the diet (P > 0.05), unlike the perirenal adipose tissue Fatty acid, % of total fatty acids
C14:0 0.52 ± 0.03 0.49 ± 0.14 NS
and carcass where the Paneuphorbia diet fed guinea pigs had lipid
C15:0 0.17 ± 0.01 0.16 ± 0.02 NS
contents 9.2% and 85.5% higher than the Panicum diet fed animals C16:0 20.13 ± 0.87 18.83 ± 1.89 NS
(Tables 3–6). C18:0 17.67 ± 0.83 18.47 ± 0.96 NS
C20:0 0.09 ± 0.02 0.11 ± 0.01 NS
C14:1 n-5 0.12 ± 0.01 0.09 ± 0.01 ⁎
3.4. Fatty acid composition of tissues
C16:1 n-7 0.60 ± 0.18 0.65 ± 0.25 NS
C16:1 n-9 0.37 ± 0.23 0.30 ± 0.19 NS
3.4.1. Perirenal adipose tissue fatty acids C18:1 trans 0.86 ± 0.07 0.64 ± 0.10 ⁎⁎
There was an effect of the Paneuphorbia diet on the proportions of C18:1 n-7 1.37 ± 0.11 1.51 ± 0.08 NS
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (P b 0.05), which C18:1 n-9 7.50 ± 0.75 7.06 ± 1.49 NS
C20:1 n-9 0.07 ± 0.01 0.04 ± 0.01 ⁎⁎⁎
were respectively decreased and increased, although the proportion of
C18:2 n-6 24.57 ± 0.70 24.86 ± 1.06 NS
oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) which is one of the major fatty acids in adipose C18:3 n-6 0.13 ± 0.03 0.13 ± 0.01 NS
tissue, was not affected by the diet. Feeding the Paneuphorbia diet led C18:3 n-3 6.06 ± 1.39 7.66 ± 1.15 ⁎
to 19.3% higher (P b 0.01) of total n-3 PUFA in perirenal adipose tissue, C18:4 n-3 0.06 ± 0.02 0.06 ± 0.02 NS
due to the high proportion of αlinolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 n-3). Animals C20:2 n-6 0.37 ± 0.04 0.44 ± 0.05 NS
C20:3 n-6 0.60 ± 0.05 0.59 ± 0.11 NS
fed the Paneuphorbia diet also presented 14.9% lower percentage
C20:4 n-6 8.04 ± 0.32 6.92 ± 0.97 NS
(P b 0.01) of total n-6 PUFA, due to the low (P b 0.001) proportion of C20:3 n-3 0.70 ± 0.08 0.90 ± 0.19 NS
linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 n-6). In this tissue, eicosapentaenoïc acid (EPA, C20:4 n-3 0.13 ± 0.04 0.15 ± 0.04 NS
C20:5 n-3 0.61 ± 0.10 1.09 ± 0.30 ⁎⁎⁎
C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) were not
C22:4 n-6 0.28 ± 0.05 0.26 ± 0.03 NS
detected. The Paneuphorbia diet led to 28% lower Σn-6/Σn-3 and ALA/
C22:5 n-6 0.19 ± 0.04 0.18 ± 0.03 NS
LA ratios compared with the Panicum diet. There was no diet effect on C22:5 n-3 5.60 ± 0.28 5.49 ± 0.89 NS
the proportions of saturated fatty acids (P b 0.05) (Table 3). C22:6 n-3 3.10 ± 0.46 2.87 ± 0.60 NS
ΣSFA 38.58 ± 1.66 38.06 ± 1.41 NS
ΣMUFA 10.89 ± 0.74 10.28 ± 1.79 NS
Table 3
Σ PUFA 50.52 ± 1.54 51.66 ± 2.65 NS
Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of perirenal adipose tissue of guinea pigs ⁎⁎
Σn-3 FA 16.26 ± 1.98 18.21 ± 1.62
fed Panicum maximum (Panicum diet) or Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla
Σn-6 FA 34.18 ± 0.70 33.37 ± 1.75 NS
(Paneuphorbia diet) (n = 20 per diet).
C18:2 n-6/C18:3 n-3 4.25 ± 1.06 3.33 ± 0.71 NS
Σn-6 FA/Σn-3 FA 2.13 ± 0.29 1.84 ± 0.18 ⁎⁎
Panicum Paneuphorbia Diet effect

Total lipids (g/100 g) 75.5 ± 3.3 82.5 ± 4.0 ⁎⁎ Σ SFA: sum of saturated fatty acids (C14:0 + C15:0 + C16:0 + C18:0 + C20:0).
Fatty acid, % of total fatty acids Σ MUFA: sum of monounsatured fatty acids (C16:1 + C18:1 + C20:1).
C14:0 1.74 ± 0.13 1.68 ± 0.09 NS Σ PUFA: sum of polyunsatured fatty acids (Σ n-3 FA+ Σ n-6 FA).
C15:0 0.31 ± 0.02 0.28 ± 0.04 NS Σ n-3 FA: sum of (n-3) fatty acids (C18:3 + C18: 4 + C20:3 + C22:5).
C16:0 22.87 ± 0.55 22.28 ± 0.72 NS Σ n-6 FA: sum of (n-6) fatty acids (C18:2 + C18:3 + C20:2 + C20:4).
C18:0 9.10 ± 0.40 8.74 ± 0.53 NS NS: no significant difference (P > 0.05).
C20:0 0.22 ± 0.04 0.15 ± 0.02 ⁎⁎⁎ ⁎ P b 0.05.
C14:1 n-5 0.35 ± 0.03 0.31 ± 0.06 NS ⁎⁎ P b 0.01.
C16:1 n-7 0.63 ± 0.03 0.71 ± 0.06 ⁎ ⁎⁎⁎ P b 0.001.
C16:1 n-9 0.35 ± 0.03 0.32 ± 0.01 NS
C18:1 trans 1.13 ± 0.09 0.82 ± 0.20 ⁎
C18:1 n-7 0.79 ± 0.11 0.79 ± 0.07 NS
C18:1 n-9 11.85 ± 0.64 10.56 ± 1.31 NS 3.4.2. Muscle and liver fatty acids
C20:1 n-9 0.23 ± 0.04 0.03 ± 0.07 ⁎⁎⁎ Muscle and liver fatty acid compositions are shown in Tables 4 and 5.
C18:2 n-6 19.57 ± 1.32 16.62 ± 0.86 ⁎⁎⁎
The proportions of total n-3 PUFA fatty acids in the muscle and the liver
C18:3 n-6 0.21 ± 0.06 0.26 ± 0.02 NS
C18:3 n-3 29.74 ± 1.85 35.57 ± 2.80 ⁎⁎ were respectively 12% and 21% higher in animals fed the Paneuphorbia
C18:4 n-3 0.11 ± 0.01 0.05 ± 0.04 ⁎ diet (P b 0.01), with a particular increase in the proportions of ALA and
C20:2 n-6 0.18 ± 0.01 0.13 ± 0.07 NS EPA, but not DHA in both tissues, compared with guinea pigs fed the
C20:4 n-6 0.11 ± 0.02 0.08 ± 0.05 NS Panicum diet. The total n-6 PUFA proportion was 7.4% lower (P b 0.05)
C20:3 n-3 0.32 ± 0.06 0.45 ± 0.09 ⁎⁎⁎
⁎⁎ in the liver of guinea pigs fed the Paneuphorbia diet, compared with
C22:5 n-3 0.19 ± 0.03 0.16 ± 0.02
ΣSFA 34.23 ± 0.87 33.13 ± 1.06 NS guinea pigs fed the Panicum diet. This decrease was mainly due to a de-
ΣMUFA 15.33 ± 0.61 13.55 ± 1.29 ⁎ crease in arachidonic acid. In muscle, there was no effect (P > 0.05) of
Σ PUFA 50.44 ± 1.14 53.32 ± 2.16 ⁎ diet on n-6 fatty acid proportions. In both tissues, the diet had no effect
Σn-3 FA 30.36 ± 1.90 36.22 ± 2.87 ⁎⁎
⁎⁎⁎
(P > 0.05) on the proportions of SFA, MUFA and PUFA. Similar to the ob-
Σn-6 FA 20.08 ± 1.37 17.09 ± 0.78
C18:2 n-6/C18:3 n-3 0.66 ± 0.08 0.47 ± 0.06 ⁎⁎⁎ servation in adipose tissue, feeding the Paneuphorbia diet led to 13.6
Σn-6 FA/Σn-3 FA 0.67 ± 0.08 0.48 ± 0.06 ⁎⁎⁎ and 24.5% lower (P b 0.01) Σn-6/Σn-3 ratios respectively in the muscle
and the liver. The ratio C18:2n-6/C18:3n-3 was not affected by the
Σ SFA: sum of saturated fatty acids (C14:0 + C15:0 + C16:0 + C18:0 + C20:0).
Σ MUFA: sum of monounsatured fatty acids (C16:1 + C18:1 + C20:1). diet in the muscle, but this ratio was 28.2% lower in the liver of animals
Σ PUFA: sum of polyunsatured fatty acids (Σ n-3 FA + Σ n-6 FA). fed the Paneuphorbia diet, compared with Guinea pigs fed the Panicum
Σ n-3 FA: sum of (n-3) fatty acids (C18:3 + C18: 4 + C20:3 + C22:5). diet.
Σ n-6 FA: sum of (n-6) fatty acids (C18:2 + C18:3 + C20:2 + C20:4).
NS: no significant difference (P > 0.05).
⁎ P b 0.05. 3.4.3. Carcass fatty acids
⁎⁎ P b 0.01. Feeding the Paneuphorbia diet led to 18.5% higher (P b 0.05) total
⁎⁎⁎ P b 0.001. n-3 PUFA in the carcass (even if the DHA proportion was decreased
824 N.D.V. Kouakou et al. / Meat Science 93 (2013) 821–826

Table 5 Table 6
Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of liver of guinea pigs fed Panicum max- Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of carcass of guinea pigs fed Panicum
imum (Panicum diet) or Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla (Paneuphorbia maximum (Panicum diet) or Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla
diet) diet (n = 20 per diet). (Paneuphorbia diet) (n = 20 per diet).

Panicum Paneuphorbia Diet effect Panicum Paneuphorbia Diet effect

Total lipids (g/100 g) 5.7 ± 0.8 6.2 ± 1.4 NS Total lipids (g/100 g) 6.2 ± 0.4 11.5 ± 1.8 ⁎
Fatty acid, % of total fatty acids Fatty acid, % of total fatty acids
C14:0 0.33 ± 0.07 0.31 ± 0.02 NS C14:0 1.59 ± 0.03 1.66 ± 0.04 NS
C15:0 0.18 ± 0.02 0.13 ± 0.02 ⁎⁎ C15:0 0.29 ± 0.00 0.28 ± 0.03 NS
C16:0 11.11 ± 1.00 10.74 ± 1.39 NS C16:0 21.82 ± 0.33 21.82 ± 0.47 NS
C18:0 28.24 ± 1.00 29.01 ± 2.08 NS C18:0 9.60 ± 0.19 8.97 ± 0.58 NS
C20:0 0.11 ± 0.02 0.17 ± 0.02 ⁎⁎⁎ C20:0 0.14 ± 0.00 0.16 ± 0.01 NS
C14:1 n-5 0.13 ± 0.02 0.10 ± 0.02 ⁎ C14:1 n-5 0.30 ± 0.02 0.31 ± 0.06 NS
C16:1 n-7 0.36 ± 0.19 0.42 ± 0.15 NS C16:1 n-7 0.92 ± 0.15 0.76 ± 0.53 NS
C16:1 n-9 0.27 ± 0.22 0.35 ± 0.15 NS C16:1 n-9 0.42 ± 0.01 0.40 ± 0.01 NS
C18:1 trans 1.22 ± 0.14 1.03 ± 0.31 NS C18:1 trans 0.00 ± 0.00 0.43 ± 0.75 NS
C18:1 n-7 0.90 ± 0.04 0.90 ± 0.06 NS C18:1 n-7 0.87 ± 0.01 0.91 ± 0.13 NS
C18:1 n-9 3.46 ± 0.36 3.49 ± 0.40 NS C18:1 n-9 12.90 ± 1.19 12.39 ± 1.92 NS
C20:1 n-9 0.05 ± 0.01 0.07 ± 0.06 NS C20:1 n-9 0.03 ± 0.01 0.03 ± 0.00 NS
C18:2 n-6 32.28 ± 0.73 30.38 ± 2.61 NS C18:2 n-6 20.01 ± 0.29 16.88 ± 0.67 ⁎⁎
C18:3 n-6 0.17 ± 0.02 0.17 ± 0.02 NS C18:3 n-6 0.24 ± 0.01 0.26 ± 0.01 NS
C18:3 n-3 6.89 ± 0.86 8.98 ± 0.76 ⁎⁎ C18:3 n-3 25.17 ± 0.65 31.24 ± 1.45 ⁎
C18:4 n-3 0.05 ± 0.01 0.06 ± 0.02 NS C18:4 n-3 0.09 ± 0.01 0.09 ± 0.02 NS
C20:2 n-6 0.66 ± 0.07 0.70 ± 0.04 NS C20:2 n-6 0.21 ± 0.00 0.01 ± 0.00 NS
C20:3 n-6 0.74 ± 0.19 0.73 ± 0.18 NS C20:3 n-6 0.19 ± 0.01 0.12 ± 0.01 ⁎⁎
C20:4 n-6 6.58 ± 0.28 5.50 ± 0.42 ⁎⁎ C20:4 n-6 2.11 ± 0.25 1.07 ± 0.15 ⁎⁎
C20:3 n-3 0.78 ± 0.11 0.84 ± 0.18 NS C20:3 n-3 0.41 ± 0.01 0.51 ± 0.06 NS
C20:4 n-3 0.14 ± 0.06 0.16 ± 0.06 NS C20:4 n-3 0.07 ± 0.00 0.08 ± 0.01 NS
C20:5 n-3 0.81 ± 0.16 1.07 ± 0.11 ⁎ C20:5 n-3 0.25 ± 0.02 0.25 ± 0.05 NS
C22:4 n-6 0.23 ± 0.02 0.22 ± 0.05 NS C22:4 n-6 0.10 ± 0.01 0.07 ± 0.00 ⁎⁎
C22:5 n-6 0.19 ± 0.02 0.15 ± 0.02 ⁎ C22:5 n-6 0.05 ± 0.00 0.03 ± 0.00 ⁎⁎⁎
C22:5 n-3 2.12 ± 0.29 2.36 ± 0.47 NS C22:5 n-3 1.49 ± 0.18 0.87 ± 0.15 ⁎
C22:6 n-3 1.91 ± 0.27 1.87 ± 0.18 NS C22:6 n-3 0.72 ± 0.08 0.38 ± 0.08 ⁎
ΣSFA 39.96 ± 0.95 40.36 ± 2.73 NS ΣSFA 33.44 ± 0.17 32.89 ± 0.66 NS
ΣMUFA 6.40 ± 0.66 6.36 ± 0.46 NS ΣMUFA 15.45 ± 1.34 15.24 ± 1.50 NS
Σ PUFA 53.64 ± 0.80 53.28 ± 2.86 NS ΣPUFA 51.11 ± 1.50 51.87 ± 1.38 NS
Σn-3 FA 12.70 ± 1.19 15.35 ± 1.26 ⁎⁎⁎ Σn-3 FA 28.19 ± 0.94 33.41 ± 1.79 ⁎
Σn-6 FA 40.84 ± 0.60 37.84 ± 2.39 ⁎ Σn-6 FA 22.90 ± 0.56 18.44 ± 0.51 ⁎⁎
C18:2 n-6/C18:3 n-3 4.75 ± 0.65 3.41 ± 0.47 ⁎⁎ C18:2 n-6/C18:3 n-3 0.80 ± 0.01 0.54 ± 0.04 ⁎
Σn-6 FA/Σn-3 FA 3.24 ± 0.38 2.48 ± 0.26 ⁎⁎ Σn-6 FA/Σn-3 FA 0.81 ± 0.01 0.55 ± 0.04 ⁎

Σ SFA: sum of saturated fatty acids (C14:0 + C15:0 + C16:0 + C18:0 + C20:0).
Σ MUFA: sum of monounsatured fatty acids (C16:1 + C18:1 + C20:1).
Σ PUFA: sum of polyunsatured fatty acids (Σ n-3 FA + Σ n-6 FA).
Σ n-3 FA: sum of (n-3) fatty acids (C18:3 + C18: 4 + C20:3 + C22:5).
Σ n-6 FA: sum of (n-6) fatty acids (C18:2 + C18:3 + C20:2 + C20:4).
NS: no significant difference (P > 0.05).
⁎ P b 0.05.
⁎⁎ P b 0.01.
⁎⁎⁎ P b 0.001.
Σ SFA: sum of saturated fatty acids (C14:0 + C15:0 + C16:0 + C18:0 + C20:0).
Σ MUFA: sum of monounsatured fatty acids (C16:1 + C18:1 + C20:1).
Σ PUFA: sum of polyunsatured fatty acids (Σ n-3 FA+ Σ n-6 FA).
Σ n-3 FA: sum of (n-3) fatty acids (C18:3 + C18: 4 + C20:3 + C22:5).
Σ n-6 FA: sum of (n-6) fatty acids (C18:2 + C18:3 + C20:2 + C20:4).
NS: no significant difference (P > 0.05).
⁎ P b 0.05.
⁎⁎ P b 0.01.
⁎⁎⁎ P b 0.001.

by the Paneuphorbia diet), and to a 19.5% lower (P b 0.01) of total n-6

PUFA, except for C18:3n-6 for which there was no diet effect. Feeding
the Euphorbia diet led to 32% lower (P b 0.05) Σn-6/Σn-3 and C18:2
n-6/C18:3 n-3 ratios in the carcass whereas there was no diet effect
(P > 0.05) on SFA, MUFA and PUFA proportions (Table 6).
4. Discussion
Panicum maximum and Euphorbia heterophylla differed greatly in
their nutritional value. However, their association provided nutrients
necessary to cover the physiological needs of Guinea pigs. The daily
weight gain was very low with both diets, even if it was much higher
with the Panicum diet (0.4 vs 1.6 g/day). Several papers show that
guinea pig growth is very low because of a chronic malnutrition. For
example, Manjeli et al. (1998) found that the mean daily weight
gain of Guinea pigs from birth to 15 weeks under traditional manage-
ment varied from 3 to 4 g/day. Cellulose was mainly furnished by
Panicum maximum and energy and protein by Euphorbia heterophylla
(Jarrige, Grenet, Demarquilly, & Besle, 1995). The n-3 fatty acid con-
tent of the Paneuphorbia diet was also much higher than that of the
Panicum diet. It has been previously demonstrated that the substitu-
tion of Panicum maximum by Euphorbia heterophylla resulted in a bet-
ter digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, fiber and thus energy
(Bindelle et al., 2009; Kouakou et al., 2010). Moreover, in this study,
it was shown that such a substitution led to a significant increase in
liver weight, lipid content of adipose tissue and carcass yield com-
pared to the diet based on Panicum maximum alone.
This study shows for the first time that the plant Euphorbia
heterophylla is a source of n-3 fatty acids. It also presents for the first
time a detailed analysis of the fatty acid distribution in the liver, muscle,
adipose tissue and carcass of guinea pigs fed with a diet enriched in
Euphorbia heterophylla. This study shows that it is possible to raise the
concentrations of n-3 PUFA in guinea pig tissues by dietary treatments
as it is the case in monogastric animals (rabbits, poultry, pigs) (Kouba,
2006; Mourot, 2010; Mourot & Hermier, 2001; Raes, De Smet, &
Demeyer, 2004; Warnants, Van Oeckel, Boucqué, 1998; Wood et al.,
2003). The Paneuphorbia diet led to an increase of all n-3 PUFA percent-
ages in the different tissues except DHA whose concentration in the
muscle and liver did not vary, as already demonstrated in pigs and
lambs fed a linseed diet (Kouba, 2006; Kouba, Benatmane, Blochet &
Mourot, 2008; Kouba, Enser, Whittington, Nute, & Wood, 2003;
Mourot & Hermier, 2001; Raes et al., 2004). But other authors (Ander
et al., 2010; Fu & Sinclair, 2000a; Kouba et al., 2008) have shown
an increase in DHA content in the tissues of rabbits fed a flaxseed-
 N.D.V. Kouakou et al. / Meat Science 93 (2013) 821–826
supplemented diet and in carcasses of guinea pigs fed a diet sup-
plemented with ALA. However, the decrease of DHA proportion in the
carcasses of guinea pigs fed the Paneuphorbia diet has never been ob-
served in animals fed an n-3 PUFA enriched diet. Several studies in
humans and animals indicated that DHA levels in tissues is not propor-
tional to ALA content of the diet, except for the brain (Abedin, Lien,
Vingrys, & Sinclair, 1999; Fu & Sinclair, 2000a; Gerster, 1998; Morise
et al., 2004; Riley, Enser, Nute, & Wood, 2000). This low conversion of
ALA to DHA in the guinea pig may be related to the partition of ALA be-
tween oxidation and conversion into DHA (Alessandri, Extier, Astorg,
Lavialle, Simon, & Guesnet, 2009; Fu & Sinclair, 2000a, 2000b; Morise
et al., 2004).
The overall reduction of the Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio was not just due to an
increase of n-3 PUFA content. In nearly all the tissues (except the mus-
cle), and in the carcass, the reduction of the Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio was due to
both an increase in the total n-3 PUFA content and a decrease in total
n-6 PUFA content. These observations are consistent with results for
rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and pigs (Abedin et al., 1999; Ander et
al., 2010; Guillevic, Kouba, & Mourot, 2009; Morise et al., 2004;
Mourot, 2010). These results suggest that the increased ALA content
and generally of total n-3 PUFA favours a balanced use of the Δ-6
desaturase for the metabolism of the n-6 and n-3 PUFA (Ander et al.,
2010).
In the present study, ALA storage in the adipose tissue accounted
for up to 35% of total fatty acids. This is of particular interest, since ad-
ipose tissue represents one of the most important pools of ALA (Fu &
Sinclair, 2000a; Raclot, 2003) that is available for the body when
needed.
The results observed with a mixed diet are due to the Euphorbia
heterophylla n-3 PUFA content, which is one of the highest among
plants, if not the highest.
The nutritional value of meat from guinea pigs is very high with
PUFA proportions of more than 50% of total fatty acids. Estimates from
the present results showed that a guinea pig carcass covers over 21%
of the daily n-3 PUFA consumption recommended in ANSES (2011). In
the present study the skin was not taken into consideration. Fu and
Sinclair (2000a, 2000b) showed that the skin of guinea pigs is one of
the major sites of accumulation of n-3 fatty acids. Consequently, for
people who eat guinea pigs the skin is a part of meat, the contribution
of Euphorbia heterophylla to the daily intake of n-3 PUFA would be
higher than the 21% calculated. Given the nutritional quality of the
meat of guinea pigs fed a diet containing Euphorbia heterophylla, its in-
corporation in the diet of other animals such as poultry whose products
are consumed by local African populations can be recommended.
5. Conclusion
Intake of a mixed diet of Euphorbia heterophylla and Panicum maxi-
mum has a significant beneficial effect on the nutritional quality of guin-
ea pig meat. This plant, which is very rich in ALA, is highly appreciated
by the guinea pig and induces a very significant increase of carcass
n-3 fatty acid content. So, this plant can give to producers a higher
price for their products (meat enriched with n-3 PUFA) which has a
positive impact on consumer health. However, other studies need to
be carried out to consider the genetic variability of this plant, for
which some varieties may be even richer in n-3 PUFA. In the same
way, suitable cooking which does not decrease the nutritional quality
of the meat, must be found. Other studies should be carried out on poul-
try fed an Euphorbia heterophylla supplemented diet, because chicken
meat and eggs are widely consumed, whatever the country.
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