CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF 2 GERMPLASMS OF THE TRIBAL PULSE, BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA LAMK

Two germplasms of the tribal pulse, Bauhinia racemosa Lamk. viz., Ayya narkoil Forest and Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, were analysed for proximate composition, total (true) seed proteins, seed protein fracti ons, amino acid composition, fatty acids, minerals and antinutritional factors. Crude proteins, crude lipids, ash and nitrogen free extracti ves constituted 19.84%, 9.52%, 3.31% and 60.65%, respectively in Ayyan arkoil Forest germplasm; whereas, in Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary g ermplasm they constituted 19.31%, 8.94%, 3.81% and 61.30%, respectivel y. The caloric values were found to be 407.64 KCal (Ayyanarkoil Forest ) and 402.90 KCal (Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary) germplasms. Essent ial amino acids like isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and lysine we re found to be high in the seed proteins of both the germplasms. The f atty acids, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids, were found to be relat ively higher in the seed lipids of both the germplasms. Both the germp lasms seemed to be a rich source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, zin c, manganese and iron. Antinutritional substances like total free phen ols, tannins, L-DOPA and phytohaemagglutinating activity also were inv estigated.