CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF 2 LITTLE-KNOWN SPECIES OF VIGNA

The seeds of Vigna capensis and V. sinensis have been analysed for proximate and mineral composition, seed protein fractions, seed protein amino acid profiles, fatty acid lipid profiles and antinutritional factors. The crude protein contents of the Vigna species investigated appeared to be closer to the levels of commonly consumed pulses. The seeds of the two Vigna species analysed were rich in the minerals K, Ca, Mg, P and Fe. The albumins and globulins constituted the major bulk of seed proteins in V. capensis and V. sinensis. Seed proteins of V. sinensis were found to have higher methionine contents when compared with the other sample investigated. In V. capensis and V. sinensis the contents of the essential amino acids valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and lysine were fairly high. Fatty acids such as palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids were found to be relatively high in both the tribal pulses investigated. Antinutritional factors such as total free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA and haemagglutinating activity were also analysed or assayed.