Sesban seeds and foliage contain canavanine and saponins, but usually no condensed tannins (Ahn et al., 1989; Shqueir et al., 1989b). When used by humans, seeds must be soaked for 3 days before cooking (NAS, 1983).
Sesban leaf meal can be lethal to young chicks and broilers (Brown et al., 1987; Shqueir et al., 1989a; Shqueir et al., 1989b). In sheep and goats, deleterious effects on growth and reproduction of male and female animals have been reported (Mekoya et al., 2009a; Mekoya et al., 2009b): tubular degeneration, changes in scrotal circumference, interstitial fibrosis, focal Leydig cell proliferation (Kaitho et al., 1998d; Woldemeskel et al., 2001). In pregnant ewes reduced occurrence of oestrus, abortion and death have been reported (Melaku et al., 2004).