Nutritional and anti-nutritional attributes of the under-utilized legume, Cassia floribunda Cav.

Three germplasm seed samples of the under-utilized legume, Cassia floribunda Cav., collected from three locations of South India were analyzed for proximate composition, mineral profiles, protein fractions, amino acid profiles of total seed protein, in vitro protein digestibility and certain anti-nutritional factors. The accessions contain (%) 19.9–21.7 crude protein, 2.1–3.1 crude lipid, 11.7–13.8 total dietary fiber, 3.4–5.6 ash and 58.0–60.5 carbohydrates (by difference). Globulins and albumins constituted the predominant fractions of the seed protein. The contents of essential amino acids, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, isoleucine, histidine and lysine, were high in all three germplasm seed samples compared to FAO/WHO (1991), [FAO/WHO. (1991). Protein quality evaluation. Rome, Italy: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations requirement pattern. In vitro protein digestibility ranged from 81.4-85.9%. Anti-nutritional factors such as total free phenolics, tannins, L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), trypsin inhibitor activity, chymotrypsin inhibitor activity and haemagglutinating activity also were analyzed and resulting levels found were not considered a threat to human health if the seeds were properly processed.