Chemical evaluation of the effect of pest infestation on the nutritive value of cowpeas Vigna unguiculata

The effect of insect infestation of the cowpea legume Vigna unguiculata was investigated. Samples of the infested cowpeas with and without the infesting insects were analysed and compared with the uninfested cowpeas for possible variation in nutrients.Results showed increase in ash, crude protein and crude fibre content with infestation. Values for the infested samples (mg 100 g^?1) were: ash, 3·70 ± 0·01; crude protein, 27·1 ± 0·80 and crude fibre, 3·30 ± 0·64, as against 3·40 ± 0·03 (ash), 23·6 ± 0·88 (crude protein) and 1·9 ± 0·01 (crude fibre) for the uninfested samples.The amino acid pattern showed that the levels of aspartic acid, threonine, serine, alanine, cysteine and isoleucine were not much affected by the infestation. Marked reduction in level was observed for lysine, glutamic acid, glycine, valine, methionine and leucine. Only arginine showed an increase in level with infestation.All the vitamins assayed showed decreases in levels with infestation. Values per 100 g sample were 14·6 ± 0·24 μg (carotenes), 0·91 ± 0·02 mg (thiamine), 0·17 ± 0·1 mg (riboflavin) for the uninfested samples and 8·40 ± 0·02 μg (carotenes), 0·41 ± 0·02 mg (thiamine) and 0·08 ± 0·03 mg (riboflavin) for the infested cowpeas.Toxic substances such as phytic acid, oxalates and tannins were higher in the infested cowpeas than in the uninfested. Hydrocyanic acid decreased with infestation.     

Vitamin C and carotenoids in organic and conventional fruits grown in Brazil

This study compared the concentration of vitamin C (ascorbic acid, AA, and dehydroascorbic acid, DHA) and carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene) between three fruits produced by organic and conventional farming. Vitamin C and carotenoids were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The Student t-test (α = 5%) was applied to determine differences between the organic and conventional production systems. AA content was significantly higher in organic acerola (4023.39 mg/100 g) compared to its conventional production (2294.53 mg/100 g). Conversely, AA content was significantly higher in conventional strawberries (42.45 mg/100 g) than the organic ones (30.74 mg/100 g). The conventional production also showed significantly higher contents of DHA (persimmon: 7.50 mg/100 g vs. 0.96 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (acerola: 6130.24 μg/100 g vs. 2486.38 μg/100 g) than the organic fruits. Lycopene was only detected in persimmons, but no significant difference was observed between farming systems. There was no evidence of the nutritional superiority of the organically grown fruits.     

The Fatty Acid Composition in Tuna (Bonito,Euthynnus pelamis) Caught at Three Different Localities from Tropics to Temperate

The present paper describes the effect of habitat on the fatty acid composition of the lipid of bonito (Euthynnus pelamis), which was caught at three different localities, Philippine Sea (the tropical zone; seawater temperature at the fishing ground was 27·8°C), East China Sea (the subtropical zone; seawater temperature was 29·7°C), and the Pacific coast of Japan (the temperate zone; sea-water temperature was 20·3°C). The total lipids of various organs and stomach contents were extracted and their fatty acid composition analysed by gas chromatography (GC). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22: 6n-3) was the major unsaturated fatty acid in the lipid of all specimens examined from all localities. The mean DHA content accounted for more than 25% (mean±standard error: 26·0±0·6%) of the total fatty acids (TFA) in the lipids of all organs, a lipid profile markedly different from that of other fish species whose fatty acid composition is generally variable. Particularly, the mean DHA content of lipids in bonito caught in the northern sea-area sample (the temperate zone) was always high (28·4±0·7% TFA) in the lipid of every organ. Because the DHA contents of lipids of the stomach contents fluctuated between 9·9 and 31·9% TFA, bonito did not simply incorporate the fatty acid profile of the lipids of its prey fishes, but selectively accumulated the DHA. Though the mean DHA content in the lipid of all bonito from the tropical to the temperate zone was markedly higher than other marine fish species such as sardines and herrings, there was a small difference between those in the northern (28·4±0·7% TFA) and southern samples (the subtropical and tropical samples, 24·7±0·8% TFA) (P<0·05). It is suggested that the difference between them may be due to environmental effects, for example, the temperature of the seawater and the fatty acid composition of the lipids of prey organisms. © 1997 SCI.     

Vitamin C losses in cooked fresh leafy vegetables

The total vitamin C levels (AA and DAA) in six freshly harvested vegetables ranged from 482 to $\text{582mg}\text{100g}$ dry weight. Vitamin C is present as l-xyloascorbic acid (AA) in all the vegetables investigated except Corchorus olitorus where some partially oxidised form (DAA) was detected at a level of 1·8% of the total vitamin C. The total vitamin C losses of blanched vegetable leaves varied from 62·2 to 93·1%. DAA accounted for 3·4 to 19·4% of the total vitamin C left in blanched leaves and for between 0 and 2·8% of the total vitamin C extracted into the blanching water. During the blanching of vegetables, enzymic oxidation of vitamin C is more important than non-enzymic oxidation by oxygen, catalysed by traces of metals such as copper and iron.     

Announcement London

Grain samples of nine varieties of pearl millet (P. typhoides) and six varieties of ragi (E. coracona) were analysed before and after malting for total ash, phosphorus, phytin phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper and chromium contents. Pearl millet alone varietal differences were significant for iron, manganese and chromium contents. Significant nutrient losses in malting were, in pearl millet: iron and manganese, 40%; copper, 30%, and phosphorus, 25% and, in ragi: calcium, 40%; zinc, 30% and copper 25%. As judged by an in vitro method, the availability of iron and zinc in millets improved several fold on malting. The values for ionizable iron (mg per 100 g of raw and malted grains) were 0·64 and 2·70 in pearl millet and 0·29 and 2·98 in ragi. Soluble zinc contents per 100 g of raw and malted grains, respectively were 2·04 and 5·25 mg in pearl millet and 2·15 and 3·24 mg in ragi. Reduction in phytin phosphorus on malting of these millets partly explained the improved availability of iron and zinc.     

Chemical evaluation of nutritive value of the fruit of African starapple (Chrysophyllum albidum)

The nutritive value of African starapple, Chrysophyllum albidum, was evaluated chemically. Chemical analyses were carried out on the peel and the edible pulp. The peel was shown to contain 58·9% moisture, 6·1% protein, 12·4% lipid, 4·6% ash, 62·4% carbohydrate and 14·5% crude fibre. The pulp contained 67·5% moisture, 8·8% protein, 15·1% lipid, 68·7% carbohydrate, 4·0% crude fibre and 3·4% ash.Analysis of the fruit for minerals showed the peel to contain (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 250; potassium, 1175; sodium, 12; copper, 2·0; magnesium, 90; zinc, 3·8; iron, 200; and phosphorus, 76·8. The pulp contained (in mg/100 g dry matter): calcium, 100; potassium, 1175; sodium, 10; copper 2·0; magnesium, 75; zinc, 3·2; iron, 10; and phosphorus, 75·4. The peel contained ascrobic acid 239·1 mg/100 g and the pulp, 446·1 mg/100 g. Some toxicants were shown to be present. The peel contained 264 mg/100 g tannins and the pulp, 627 mg/100 g.The total oxalate content in the peel was 211 mg/100 g and in the pulp, 167 mg/100 g. The hydrocyanic acid content was 5·4 mg/100 g in the peel and 6·8 mg/100 g in the pulp. The phytic acid content was 0·8 mg/100 g in the peel and 1·6 mg/100 g in the pulp.The contribution of the fruit of African starapple to the nutrient requirements of consumers is discussed as well as other possible uses for the fruit.     

Selection of starters for a traditional Turkish yayik butter made from yoghurt

Butter is produced from two different materials in Turkey, cream and yoghurt. The butter produced from fresh yoghurt or ‘tulum yoghurt’ (a strained yoghurt produced from cow, goat or sheep milk) is called ‘yayik butter’ and has been traditionally produced in Turkey for centuries. In this research, we attempted to isolate and identify the natural lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of yayik butter and to select the best LAB combination for butter production. Twenty samples of yayik butter were collected from Afyon, Antalya, Isparta and Konya regions in Turkey and determined to have a mean pH of 4·78±0·33, a mean titratable acidity (lactic acid) of 0·23±0·07% and a mean NaCl of 0·55±1·22%. The mean counts of LAB (log₁₀ cfu g⁻¹) were 2·66±0·84 and 1·72±0·82 on MRS agar at 30 and 42°C, 2·44±0·93 and 1·78±0·24 on M17 agar at 30 and 42°C, and 1·64±1·196 on Sodium Azide Leuconostoc agar at 21°C, respectively. Eighty-five different LAB isolates were obtained from 20 yayik butters and identified asStreptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus (21·2%), Streptococcus sp. (4·7%), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (20%), Lactobacillus casei ssp.casei (15·3%), Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei (2·3%),Enterococcus faecium (18·8%). Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (Leucono-stoc mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum) (7·1%), Leuconostoc gelidum (Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp.mesenteroides ) (4·7%) and Weissella paramesenteroides (Leuconostoc paramesenteroides) (5·9%). Combinations of S. salivarius ssp. thermophilus S51, Lb. delbrueckii ssp.bulgaricus A42, Lb. casei ssp. casei K64, Lb. paracasei ssp. paracasei A27, andLeu. pseudomesenteroides E83 were used as starter bacteria for experimental butter production from cream. Six different groups of butters were produced using different combinations of these bacteria (B, C, D and E samples), commercial culture (F sample), and without culture (A sample). Sensory evaluations showed that the experimentally produced butter sample of group B was more acceptable than the other butters. In addition, the buttermilk of sample B had lowest fact content. LAB counts of experimental butters produced with combined cultures and commercial culture were similar (6·66±1·87–6·83±0·040 and 6·81±0·13 log₁₀ cfu g⁻¹ on MRS agar, respectively).     

Nutrient contents,rumen protein degradability and antinutritional factors in some colour- and white-flowering cultivars of Vicia faba beans

Six colour-flowering (Scirocco, Alfred, Carola, Condor, Tina and Herz Freya) and six white-flowering (Caspar, Albatros, Gloria, Tyrol, Vasco and Cresta) cultivars of Vicia faba were studied. The crude protein contents of colour- and white-flowering cultivars were 267±13·6 and 283±18·8 g kg⁻¹, respectively, which did not differ significantly at P<0·05. The levels of lipids, crude fibre, starch and ash varied from 14 to 22 g kg⁻¹, 88 to 143 g kg⁻¹, 407 to 485 g kg⁻¹ and 32 to 42 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The calculated organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) of the white-flowering cultivars were significantly higher (P<0·001) than those of the colour-flowering cultivars (OMD: 889·1±26·6 g kg⁻¹ vs 797·5±17·1 g kg⁻¹; ME: 13·97±0·49 vs 12·30±0·34 MJ kg⁻¹). In all cultivars, sulphur amino acids were lower than adequate concentration when compared with recommended amino acid pattern of FAO/WHO/UNO reference protein for a 2–5-year-old child. The in vitro rumen nitrogen degradability of colour-flowering cultivars was significantly lower (P<0·01) compared to that of white-flowering cultivars (71·4±9·3% vs 88·0±11·1%). Amongst colour-flowering varieties, the contents of total phenols (TP), tannins (T) and condensed tannins (CT) were highest in Alfred (28·3, 21·0 and 35·4 g kg⁻¹, respectively). The contents of TP and T were similar (about 15 and 10 g kg⁻¹, respectively) in Carola, Tina and Herz Freya, and the CT were in the order: Condor>Herz Freya>Carola. The CT were not detected in white-flowering varieties, T were virtually absent and TP were extremely low (4·0–4·9 g kg⁻¹). The activities of other antinutritional factors (white- and colour-flowering cultivars, respectively: trypsin inhibitor activity 3·05±0·34 and 1·85±0·09 mg trypsin inhibited g⁻¹; lectin 27·2±9·4 and 27·1±5·1 mg ml⁻¹ assay medium producing haemagglutination; phytate 15·0±2·7 and 16·6±2·3 g kg⁻¹) were very low. A strong negative correlation (r=-0·92, P<0·001) between tannins and in vitro rumen protein degradability was observed which suggested that tannins have adverse effect on protein degradability. Similarly negative correlations between tannin levels and metabolisable energy (r=-0·89; P<0·001) and organic matter digestibility (r=-0·89; P<0·001) were observed. The correlation coefficient between trypsin inhibitor activity and tannins was negative and highly significant (r=-0·88, P<0·001), whereas between tannins and saponins it was significantly positive (r=0·96, P<0·001). ©1997 SCI     

Changes in the composition and carbohydrate constituents of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus, Linn.) with age

Changes which occurred in the proximate composition, concentrations of free sugars, high molecular weight carbohydrates (water-soluble polysaccharides, starch hemicellulose and cellulose) and lignin in four varieties of okra when harvested at different ages have been studied. Samples were collected from the field at 1, 4, 7 and 10 days after flowering. Crude protein, which initially ranged from 19·9 to 24·7 g/100 g DM, decreased with age whilst crude fibre, 12·5–16·7 g/100 g DM, increased with age. Ether extract varied between 1·60 and 2·19 g/100 g DM whilst ash was 8·00–8·59 g/100 g DM. Available carbohydrates (starch + sugars) ranged from 11·2 to 13·1 g/100 g DM whilst unavailable carbohydrates increased from 33·9–42·0 g/100 g DM to 51·9–59·7 g/100 g DM.Overall varietal differences were apparent for ethanol-soluble sugars and the structural carbohydrates while differences among the means due to age were significant (P < 0·05).     

The effects of washing and chlorine dioxide gas on survival and attachment of Escherichia coli O157: H7 to green pepper surfaces

The effects of washing and chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) gas treatment on survivability and attachment of Escherichia coli O157: H7 C7927 to uninjured and injured green pepper surfaces were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and colony enumeration methods. Escherichia coli O157: H7 preferentially attached to coarse and porous intact surfaces and injured surfaces. The bacterial attachment to injured green pepper surfaces may be determined mainly by the hydrophilic properties of the injured surfaces and might not be assisted by the exocellular polymers of the bacteria. Injuries to the wax layer, the cuticle and underlying tissues increased bacterial adhesion, growth, and resistance to washing and disinfecting treatments. No significant growth of E. coli O157: H7 was found on uninjured surfaces after inoculation and incubation for 24 h at 37°C, whereas significant growth and multiplication were found on injured surfaces (P<0·05). ClO₂gas treatment was more effective as a disinfecting method than water washing. Using a membrane-plating method for resuscitation and enumeration of ClO₂-treated E. coli O157: H7 on surface-injured green peppers, 3·03±0·02 and 6·45 ±0·02 log reductions were obtained after treatments by 0·62 and 1·24 mg l⁻¹ClO₂, respectively, for 30 min at 22°C and 90–95% relative humidity. In contrast, water washing achieved log reductions of 1·5±0·05–1·67±0·10 on injured surfaces and 2·44±0·04 on uninjured surfaces.     

The choline content of feed ingredients and mixed feeds determined by an enzymatic assay

A recently developed procedure for the determination of choline in ingredients and feeds was utilised to establish the levels and the variability of choline in a series of ingredients and to compare the analysed and calculated choline values of mixed feeds. The concentrations of choline in samples of maize (7), canola meal (3), wheat middlings (1) and dehydrated bakery product (1) were, respectively, 1·55±0·18, 7·59±0·08, 2·35 and 2·39 g kg⁻¹, all higher than ingredient composition table values. Choline contents lower than table values were found in samples of poultry by-products (7) and meat and bone meal (6): 2·18±0·87 and 1·08±0·29 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The average choline concentration found in samples of dehulled soybean meal (7) was 2·73±0·18 g kg⁻¹, similar to table values. The choline in samples of poultry fat (2) averaged 0·48±0·02 g kg⁻¹. Significant correlations between the concentrations of choline and of some components of the proximate analysis were found. The analysed choline concentrations in mixed feeds were only 1·4% lower than the calculated levels based on the ingredient analyses. The procedure was adequate for choline determination in ingredients or mixed feeds. The high variability in the choline content of some ingredients may require analysis for proper feed formulation. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Chemical Composition of Pea Fibre Isolates and their Effect on the Endogenous Amino Acid Flow at the Ileum of the Pig

Pea starch, hulls and cotyledon inner fibres, isolated from pea seeds, were incorporated in N-free diets, on a NDF-content basis, in order to study their effect on the ileal endogenous amino acid (AA) excretion in the growing pig. Maize starch and wood cellulose were selected as references. The inner fibre-containing diet was also supplemented with enzymatically hydrolysed casein (EHC) in order to test the peptide alimentation method on a diet containing a fibre source with a high water-holding capacity (WHC=10·9 g water g⁻¹ DM). The fibres were also analysed by different methods (crude fibre, NDF, ADF, enzymatic–gravimetric method, Englyst method). The fibre content of the inner fibre fraction varied widely from one method to another and ranged from 109 g crude fibre to 480 g AOAC fibre kg⁻¹ DM. Compared to the ‘maize starch+wood cellulose’ diet (11·0 g AA excreted kg⁻¹ DM intake), pea starch had no effect on ileal AA losses (9·6 g), whereas pea hulls slightly increased them (14·2 g). The AA excretion dramatically increased with the incorporation of inner fibres (28·0 g), because of their very high WHC. The addition of EHC increased the output (48·0 g) further, at a level that can hardly be explained only by an increase of the endogenous secretions. The results suggest that the NDF content of grain legume products is not indicative of their effect on the ileal endogenous AA losses in pigs and that the physiological effects of fibres along the gastrointestinal tract are due to both their chemical and physical properties.     

In vivo and in vitro digestible fractions in forage

Faeces and the residues from the in vitro digestion of 13 forages were sequentially extracted with acid-pepsin, ethyl alcohol, hot water and diethyl ether and the quantity of the extracts was adjusted to a protein-free basis and expressed per 100 g of original forage organic matter. Undigested material inin vivo and in vitro experiments were respectively, 3·37 and 1·88 g (±0·12) for ethyl alcohol extracts, 1·13 and 1·10 g (±0·05) for hot water extracts, 0·15 and 0·12 g(±0·02) for diethyl ether extracts and 1·44 (±0·22) and 0g for 0·1 N -HCI extracts. The difference between values for in vivo and in vitro experiments was considered to represent endogenous material present in faeces.     

An improved sample preparation method for quantification of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid by HPLC

Ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) are reduced and oxidized forms of vitamin C, which are ubiquitously found in various fruits and vegetables. The present study has evaluated and optimized various factors responsible for AA and DHA stability in grapefruit samples. Furthermore, the optimized method was used to quantify these compounds in different fruits and vegetables. The AA stability in the samples was evaluated by extracting grapefruit juice using 1, 3 and 5 g/100 mL metaphosphoric acid (MPA) and trichloro acetic acid (TCA). The AA levels were stable in grapefruit samples extracted with 1, 3 and 5 g/100 mL MPA, whereas TCA extracts showed degradation in 48 h. Among the three reducing agents studied, tris(2-carboxy ethyl) phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP) has efficiently converted DHA at all concentrations and the samples were stable for 48 h at 2.5 mmol/L TCEP. Lower pH favored complete conversion of DHA by TCEP than dithiothreitol. Among various fruits and vegetables analyzed, the highest levels of AA (260.1 mg/100 g) were observed in guava and DHA (58.6 mg/100 g) in parsley samples. The current optimized method prevents the degradation of AA and DHA from fruit and vegetable samples stored at room temperature for two days.     

Determination of True Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Feedstuffs for Pigs with the Linear Relationships between Distal Ileal Outputs and Dietary Inputs of Amino Acids

This study was carried out to investigate the methodological aspects of extrapolating the ileal losses of endogenous amino acids (AA) with linear relationships between the distal ileal outputs and dietary inputs of AA. Six barrows, average initial body weight 35 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum and fed six diets according to a 6×6 Latin square design. Six maize starch-based diets containing six levels of crude protein (CP) and AA from soya bean meal (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24% CP, respectively) were formulated. Chromic oxide (4 g kg^-1 diet) was included as the digestibility marker. Each experimental period consisted of 8 days. Ileal digesta were collected, at 2 h intervals, for a total of 24 h during days 7 and 8. There were strong linear relationships (P<0·01) between the ileal outputs and dietary inputs of AA. Differences in ranges of graded dietary levels of AA affected the linearity and caused large differences in the extrapolated levels of ileal endogenous AA. Therefore, the design of a suitable range of graded dietary levels of AA is the most important methodological consideration for the determination of endogenous AA losses and the true ileal digestibility values of AA with the linear relationship. For CP and the essential AA, the true ileal digestibility values (%) in soya bean meal and the ileal endogenous losses (g kg^-1 dry matter intake, in parentheses) were as follows: CP, 89·4 (16·4); arginine, 96·1 (0·68); histidine, 92·4 (0·24); isoleucine, 91·7 (0·45); leucine, 90·7 (0·69); lysine, 90·5 (0·48); methionine, 93·6 (0·13); phenyl-alanine, 92·5 (0·38); threonine, 86·5 (0·71) and valine, 90·3 (0·56). Furthermore, the levels of endogenous AA extrapolated with the linear relationships between the ileal outputs and dietary inputs of AA were very close to the values estimated with the linear relationships between the dietary contents of apparent ileal digestible and total AA, suggesting that both models of linear relationships can be used as the regression analysis technique for determination of ileal losses of endogenous AA and true ileal digestibility values of AA in feedstuffs for pigs. © 1997 SCI.     

Antioxidant activity of three edible seaweeds from two areas in South East Asia

Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AOA) of 50% aqueous methanol extracts of the marine algae, Padina antillarum, Caulerpa racemosa and Kappaphycus alvarezzi were studied. TPC was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu method while 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous ion chelating (FIC) assay and beta carotene bleaching (BCB) assay were used to study their AOA. P. antillarum was found to have the highest TPC, 2430±208 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g dried sample and ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (AEAC), 1140±85 mg AA/100 g. C. racemosa and K. alvarezzi displayed lower TPC and AEAC. C. racemosa had 144±22 mg GAE/100 g dried sample of TPC and 14.3±2.0 mg AA/100 g of AEAC, while K. alvarezzi had 115±35 mg/100 g dried sample of TPC and 37.8±16.8 mg AA/100 g of AEAC. In addition, P. antillarum displayed the highest reducing power, 15.7±2.6 mg GAE/g and highest chelating ability. C. racemosa and K. alvarezzi exhibited lower reducing power, 0.737±0.423 mg GAE/g and 0.561±0.269 mg GAE/g, and lower chelating ability. However, the AOA of these three seaweeds as assessed by BCB assay were equally high.     

Study of the nutritional value of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativaL)

The nutritional value of five samples of black cumin seeds from five different sources available in the local market were studied. The average values of the proximate analysis on dry matter basis were 216 g kg⁻¹ for crude protein, 406 g fat, 45 g ash, 84 g crude fibre and 249 g of nitrogen-free extract, whereas moisture content was 38 g kg⁻¹. The mineral and vitamin analyses showed that black cumin seeds contained iron, (105 mg kg⁻¹) copper (18 mg), zinc (60 mg) phosphorus (527 mg), calcium (1860 mg), thiamin (15·4 mg), niacin (57 mg), pyridoxine (5·0 mg) and folic acid (160 μg). The protein quality of black cumin seeds was evaluated using net protein utilisation (NPU), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net dietary protein energy percent (NDPE %) for two samples imported from Syria and Turkey, while PER was determined for the Syrian sample only. The results indicated that the NPU standardised of Turkish black cumin seeds was significantly higher than that of Syrian type (P<0·05). The mean results (±SD) were 54·6±2·72 for the Syrian type and 63·1±3·74 for the Turkish type. The NDPE% mean results (±SD) were 5·3±0·79 and 5·6±0·26 for the Syrian and the Turkish samples, respectively. The PER adjusted value for the Syrian samples was 1·9. The results of protein quality evaluation and those of the nutrient composition suggest that black cumin is of relatively good nutritional value. © 1998 SCI.     

Kigelia africana seed: proximate,mineral, vitamin E,fibre, amino acid and fatty acid composition

Research reports on the ethnomedical and pharmacological potential of Kigelia africana extracts. In this study, the nutritional potential of K. africana seed and seed oil was evaluated by chemical analyses. Organic matter and ash constituted 915.23 ± 7.98 g kg^?1 DM and 49.05 ± 4.55 g kg^?1 DM of the seed mass, respectively. Oil constituted 492.2 g kg^?1 DM of the seed mass with oleic acid, linoleic acid and α‐linolenic acid constituting 17.6%, 12.9% and 54.3%, respectively, of the seed oil. Vitamin E concentration was 0.94 ± 0.25 μg g^?1. Crude protein was 357.35 ± 3.39 g kg^?1 DM. Arginine (6.14 ± 0.31 g per 100 g) as the most abundant amino acid and hydroxyproline (0.11 ± 0.06 g per 100 g) the least. Phosphorus (1123.2 mg per 100 g) and calcium (56.1 mg per 100 g) were, respectively, the most and least abundant minerals. Gross energy was 29.6 ± 0.06 MJ kg^?1. Kigelia africana seeds could be exploited as nutrient‐dense dietary supplement rich in protein, oleic acid and essential fatty acids.     

珍珠番石榴果实中的营养成分与活性物质分析

以湛江河唇珍珠番石榴果实为原料,分析测试了其营养成分及活性成分。结果表明,珍珠番石榴鲜果样品中各主要营养成分的含量分别为水分(88.98±0.04)g/100g,脂肪(0.11±0.01)g/100g,粗纤维(2.27±0.01)g/100g,总糖(5.78±0.02)g/100g,果糖(22.00±0.20)mg/g,葡萄糖(22.05±0.25)mg/g,蔗糖(12.45±0.15)mg/g,柠檬酸(1.68±0.02)mg/g;蛋白质(0.78±0.01)g/100g,含有16种氨基酸和7种人体必需氨基酸,必需氨基酸含量为1 910.32 mg/kg,占总氨基酸的42.02%,必需氨基酸和非必需氨基酸的比值为0.72;灰分含量为(0.50±0.05)g/100g,其中钾、钙、铁等矿质元素含量较高。活性物质成分的含量分别为多糖(5.68±0.02)g/100g,多酚(180.84±0.15)mg/100g,黄酮(193.58±0.01)mg/100 g,维生素C(94.02±0.02)mg/100g。可见,珍珠番石榴含有种类较多的营养活性成分,开发和应用前景广阔。     

Assessment of phytochemicals,enzymatic and antioxidant activities in germinated mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilezek)

Vitamin C, phenolic and flavonoid contents along with enzymatic and antioxidant activities were determined in germinated mung bean (Vigna radiate). Elevated levels of vitamin C 72.31 ± 0.62 mg/100 g FW and flavonoid content 85.57 ± 0.59 mg CE/100 g FW were estimated for euphylla after 6 days of germination. Moreover, maximum peroxyl radical scavenging activity 645.4 ± 28.5 μmol ASA equiv./100 g FW was also determined in euphylla. However, seed coat has the highest content of phenolic content (568.4 ± 8.8 mg GAE/100 g FW), whereas cotyledon depicted the highest ascorbate oxidase and peroxidase activities (396.5 ± 4.0 and 548.4 ± 2.8 min^?1 g^?1 FW, respectively). These findings revealed that euphylla in mung bean sprouts is the most bioactive part with significant level of phytochemicals. Therefore, after germination of 6 days, euphylla is the main source of nutrition in mung bean sprouts.