Ha. Oboh et al., Effect of soaking, cooking and germination on the oligosaccharide content of selected Nigerian legume seeds, PL FOOD HUM, 55(2), 2000, pp. 97-110
The identity and quantity of and effect of processing on raffinose oligosac
charides in raw, mature seeds of lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus), pigeon pea
s (Cajanus cajan), African yam beans (Sphenostylis sternocarpa) and jackbea
ns (Canavalia ensiformis) were investigated. Sucrose, raffinose, stachyose
and verbascose were identified by HPLC in all the legume seeds. The total a
lpha-galactoside contents of the seeds in decreasing order were African yam
beans 3.84 mg/100 mg; white lima beans 3.62 mg/100 mg; cream pigeon peas 3
.51 mg/100 mg; red lima beans 3.37 mg/100 mg; jackbeans 2.83 mg/100 mg and
brown pigeon peas 2.34 mg/100 mg. The predominant oligosaccharide was verba
scose in pigeon peas and stachyose in the other three legumes. Cooking unso
aked seeds brought about a greater reduction in the total alpha-galactoside
content than soaking for nine hours. The removal of oligosaccharides was h
igher in legumes cooked in alkaline solution than in water. Germination qua
ntitatively reduced raffinose, stachyose and verbascose while sucrose was i
ncreased in all seeds except red lima beans and jackbeans.