Studies on the underexploited legumes, Indigofera linifolia and Sesbania bispinosa: nutrient composition and antinutritional factors

Abstract

The nutrient composition and antinutritional factors of two Indian tribal pulses, Indigofera linifolia (L.f)Retz. and Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wight, were determined. The mature seeds contained 296.6-321.2 g kg-1 crude protein, 47.2-64.2 g kg-1 crude lipid, 56.7-72 g kg-1 crude fiber, 27.6-31.9 g kg-1 ash and 531.3-550.6 g kg-1 carbohydrates. The seeds of Indigofera linifolia were rich in K, Ca, Mn and Cu, whereas Sesbania bispinosa were rich in P and Zn. While albumins and globulins constituted the major proportion of seed proteins in Indigofera linifolia, globulins and glutelins formed the major bulk of seed proteins in Sesbania bispinosa. Seed lipids of both legumes contained a large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid as the predominant one. These two pulses contained adequate levels of all the essential amino acids except sulpho-amino acids in total seed proteins and globulin fraction of Sesbania bispinosa. The in vitro protein digestibility of the raw seeds of Indigofera linifolia and Sesbania bispinosa were found to be 74.15% and 66.71% and cooked seeds 81.4% and 76.8%, respectively. Antinutritional factors such as total free phenolics, tannins, phytic acid, hydrogen cyanide, trypsin inhibitor and phytohaemagglutinating activities were also analysed.