| Abstract: | To assess the nutritional quality of Japanese barnyard millet ( JBN , Echinochloa frumentacea Link), its protein content, quality and digestibility were studied. The proximate composition of the millet resembles that of other millets/cereals. The protein content had a mean value of 36.7 g kg?1. Solubility fractionation showed glutelins to be the major storage protein (60.8%). Contents of phenolics and tannins were estimated and found to be low. The protein digestibility of JBN flours was high (84%). The digestibilities of the different protein fractions varied from 50.9% to 68.4% with pepsin and from 26.6 mg g?1 to 55.8 mg g?1 (α-amino N liberated) with trypsin. These differences have been discussed relative to differences in amino acid composition of the protein fractions as well as to the possible presence of antinutritional factors in the fractions. |
