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Chemical composition of the underutilized legume Cassia hirsuta L.

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Abstract

Seven accessions of the underutilized legume, Cassia hirsuta L., seeds collected from seven different agroclimatic regions of Tamil Nadu, India, were analyzed for proximate composition, total proteins, protein fractions, mineral profiles and selected antinutritional factors. Crude protein ranged from 15.52 to 20.74%, crude lipid 3.77–7.04%, crude fiber4.68–6.92%, ash 3.98–6.42% and carbohydrates 62.45–70.16%. Energyvalues of the seeds were 1549–1634 kJ/100 g (DM), which are comparable to those of other legumes. Data on seed protein fractions revealed thatglobulins constituted the bulk of the seed protein as in most legumes. Mineralcontents of the seeds showed greater variation. Potassium was the mostabundant mineral (1029–1786 mg/100 g), whereas manganese was low (2.1–2.2 mg/100 g). Antinutritional factors such as total free phenolics,tannins, L-DOPA and lectins were analyzed. The results of the studydemonstrated that the accessions of C. hirsuta seeds collectedfrom Tamil Nadu, India, could be good sources of some important nutrientsfor humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seed Technology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore –, 641 046 (T.N.), India

    V. Vadivel & K. Janardhanan

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  1. V. Vadivel
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  2. K. Janardhanan
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Vadivel, V., Janardhanan, K. Chemical composition of the underutilized legume Cassia hirsuta L.. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 55, 369–381 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008117010991

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