Proximate composition mineral and amino acid content of mature Canavalia gladiata seeds

The chemical composition and the nutritional quality of protein and carbohy drates of mature seeds of Canavalia gladiata (L.) were investigated. The wh ole and cotyledon flour of mature seeds contained; crude protein 26.8 and 2 9.2%; fat 2.8 and 3.1%; fibre 33.2 and 10.2%; ash 3.9 and 4.3%; carbohydrat e 33.3 and 53.2% on dry matter basis respectively. The carbohydrate fractio ns have starch contents of 30.7 and 39.6% and 27.7 and 34.6 mg g(-1) low mo lecular weight carbohydrates on dry matter basis. The energy content of who le seed and cotyledon flour was 11,082 and 14,923 kJ kg(-1). Sucrose repres ents the highest fraction of low molecular weight carbohydrates with fructo se being the lowest. The mineral analysis showed K, Mg, Ca, P and S to be p resent in high quantities. The essential amino acid profile compared well w ith FAO/WHO recommended pattern except for sulphur containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Therefore the chemical composition of the raw matu re seeds of Canavalia gladiata (kernel) indicates the bean to be a good sup plement to cereal-based diets. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.