Investigation on the effect of Germination on the Proximate Composition of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst ex A Rich) and Fluted Pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis)

The effect of germination on the proximate composition of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis) was investigated. The moisture and total lipid content of the ungerminated African yam bean seeds is significantly lower (p 0.05) than that of the germinated seeds, while their crude protein, total carbohydrate, ash and total metabolizable energy content was higher. The ungerminated fluted pumpkin seeds had significantly lower (p 0.05) moisture, crude protein, ash and total lipid content, higher total carbohydrate and a comparable metabolizable energy content. The proximate compositions of seeds of both plants were variably affected by germination.