Skip to main content
Log in

The chemical composition and nutritional potential of the tribal pulse,Abrus precatorius L.

  • Published:
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The boiled seeds ofAbrus precatorius L. are eaten by the residents of the Andaman Islands in India. The seeds were analysed for proximate composition, total (true) protein, seed protein fractions, amino acid profile of seed proteins, minerals and certain antinutritional factors. The seed proteins are rich in most of the essential amino acids, and they are deficient only in cystine and threonine, when compared to the WHO/FAO requirement pattern. The antinutritional factors (total free phenols, tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity and haemagglutinating activity) were also investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abdel-Aal EM, Youssef, MM, Adel Shehata A, El-Mehdy AR (1986) Chemical and functional properties of some legume powders. Food Chem 20: 153–156

    Google Scholar 

  2. Altschul AM (ed) (1974) New Protein Foods, London: Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

  3. AOAC (1970) Official Methods of Analysis, Washington DC: Association of Official Analytical chemists

    Google Scholar 

  4. Basha SMM, Beevers L (1975) The development of proteolytic activity and protein degradation during germination ofPisum sativum L. Planta 124: 77–87

    Google Scholar 

  5. Basha SMM, Cherry JP, Young CT (1976) Changes in free amino acids, carbohydrates and proteins of maturing seeds from various peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars. Cereal Chem 53: 586–597

    Google Scholar 

  6. Birch GG, Parker KJ, Worgen JT (eds) (1975) Food from Waste, London: Applied Science Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brain KR (1976) Accumulation of L-DOPA in cultures fromMucuna pruriens. Plant Sci Letts 7: 157–161

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bray HG, Thorne WV (1954) Analysis of phenolic compounds. Meth Biochem Anal 1: 27–52

    Google Scholar 

  9. Burns RR (1971) Methods for estimation of tannin in grainSorghum. Agron J 63: 511–512

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chrispeels MJ, Baumgartner B (1978) Trypsin inhibitor in mungbean cotyledons. Purification, characteristics, subcellular localization and metabolism. Plant Physiol 61: 617–623

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dickman SR, Bray RM (1940) Colorimetric determination of phosphate. Ind Eng Chem Anal Ed 12: 665–668

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gopinathan MC, Babu CR, Chatterjee SR, Abrol YP (1987). Nutritional potential ofVigna minima (Roxb.) Ohiwi and Ohashi: 1. Seed protein content and amino acid composition. Plant Foods. Hum Nutr 36: 345–356

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hooker JD (1973) The Flora of British India (Reprinted) Vol. II. Delhi: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun and Periodical experts

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hove EL (1974) Composition and protein quality of sweet lupin seed, J Sci Food Agric 25: 851–859

    Google Scholar 

  15. Humphries EC (1956) Mineral composition and ash analysis. In: Paech K, Tracey MV (eds) Modern Methods of Plant Analysis, Vol. I. Berlin: Springer Verlag, pp. 468–502

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ignacimuthi S, Babu CR (1987)Vigna radiata var.sublobata (Fabaceae): Economically useful wild relative of urd and mungbean. Econ Bot 41: 418–422

    Google Scholar 

  17. Issac RA, Johnson WC (1975) Collaborative study of wet and dry techniques for the elemental analysis of plant tissue by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. J AOAC 58: 436

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jain SK (1981) Glimpses of Indian Ethnobotany. New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kihlberg R (1972) The Microbes as a source of food. Ann Rev Microbiol 26: 427–466

    Google Scholar 

  20. Liener IE (1976) Phytoheammagglutinins (phytolectins). Ann Rev Plant Physiol 27: 291–319

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lin S, Njaa LR, Eggum BO, Shen H (1983) Chemical and biological evaluation of silk-worm chrysalid protein. J Sci Food Agric 34: 896–900

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275

    Google Scholar 

  23. Marangoni A, Alli I (1988) Composition and properties of seeds and pods of the tree legumeProsopis juliflora (DC), J Sci Food Agric 44: 99–110

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meiners CR, Derise NL, Lau HC, Crews MG, Ritchey SJ, Murphy EW (1976) Proximate composition and yield of raw and cooked mature dry legumes J Agric Food Chem 24: 1122–1126

    Google Scholar 

  25. Musquiz M, Burbano C, Rey C, Cassinello M (1989) A chemical study ofLupins hispanicus seed nutritional components. J Sci Food Agric 47: 197–204

    Google Scholar 

  26. Osborne DR, Voogt P (eds) (1978) Calculation of calorific value In: The Analysis of Nutrients in Foods. New York: Academic Press, pp. 239–240

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rajaram N, Janardhanan K (1990) The biochemical composition and nutritional potential of the tribal pulse,Mucuna gigantea (Willd) DC. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 41: 45–51

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ravindran V, Ravindran G (1988) Nutritional and antinutritional characteristics ofMucuna (Mucuna utilis) bean seeds. J Sci Food Agric 46: 71–79

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rivett DE, Tucker DJ, Jones GP (1983) The chemical composition of seeds from some Australian plants. Aust J Agric Res 34: 427–432

    Google Scholar 

  30. WHO/FAO (1973) FAO, Energy and protein requirements. Report of Joint FAO/WHO Adhoc expert committee. Rome: FAO/WHO

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rajaram, N., Janardhanan, K. The chemical composition and nutritional potential of the tribal pulse,Abrus precatorius L.. Plant Food Hum Nutr 42, 285–290 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02194088

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02194088

Key words

Navigation