Studies of the chemical composition and protein quality evaluation of differently processed Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna pruriens seed flours

Differently processed seed flours of Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna pruriens were characterized with respect to their proximate composition, gross energy, mineral and amino acid contents. The anti-nutrients typified by phytin, lectin, trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), tannin and cyanide were also quantified and this was followed by protein quality evaluation with the rat. The result showed that C ensiformis contained on the average: crude protein 24.2+/-2.2, ash 3.1+/-0.6 and ether extract 11.1+/-0.9 g/100g DM while M. pruriens contained on the average: CP 25.7+/-1.4, ash 4.1+/-1.4 and EE 9.6+/-2.8 g/100g DM. The gross energy varied from 1.65 to 2.07 MJ/100g for C. ensiformis with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 6.74% while it varied from 1.66 to 2.07 MJ/100g with a CV of 6.19% for M. pruriens due to processing. The seed flours contained a good array of amino acids but were low in cystine and methionine. Also the two flours contained appreciable levels of Na, K, Ca, Mg and P as well as some minor minerals such as Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu. The levels of these minerals were higher in the raw flours and tended to be low, in most cases, in dehulled flours. Processing significantly reduced and in some cases eliminated the anti-nutrients quantified. The protein quality evaluation of the legume seeds clearly indicated their unsuitability even in the processed forms, as sole sources of dietary protein in human nutrition. However, given their high yield potentials these seeds could play valuable roles as supplemental nutrient sources to some farm products used in food formulation for man in most developing countries where hunger is endemic. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.