CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF 2 LITTLE-KNOWN SPECIES OF VIGNA

The seeds of Vigna capensis and V. sinensis have been analysed for pro ximate and mineral composition, seed protein fractions, seed protein a mino acid profiles, fatty acid lipid profiles and antinutritional fact ors. The crude protein contents of the Vigna species investigated appe ared to be closer to the levels of commonly consumed pulses. The seeds of the two Vigna species analysed were rich in the minerals K, Ca, Mg , P and Fe. The albumins and globulins constituted the major bulk of s eed proteins in V. capensis and V. sinensis. Seed proteins of V. sinen sis were found to have higher methionine contents when compared with t he other sample investigated. In V. capensis and V. sinensis the conte nts of the essential amino acids valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalan ine and lysine were fairly high. Fatty acids such as palmitic, linolei c and linolenic acids were found to be relatively high in both the tri bal pulses investigated. Antinutritional factors such as total free ph enols, tannins, L-DOPA and haemagglutinating activity were also analys ed or assayed.