Chemical Composition and Nutritional Evaluation of Lesser Known Pulses of the Genus, Mucuna

Two samples of seed materials of the Indian tribal pulse, Mucuna pruriens var.utilis were collected from Karaiyar, Tirunelveli district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu .The seeds of another tribal pulse, M.deeringiana were collected from Marunthuvazhmalai, Kanyakumari district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. The mature seed samples were analysed for proximate and mineral compositions, vitamins (niacin and ascorbic acid), Fatty acid profiles, amino acid composition and antinutritional factors. The investigated seed samples of M.pruriens var.utilis and M.deeringiana contained higher amounts of crude protein and crude lipid when compared with most of the commonly consumed pulses. The investigated seeds were rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and manganese. The fatty acid profiles of both samples of M.pruriens var.utilis and M.deeringiana revealed that the seed lipids contained higher concentration of palmitic acid and linoleic acid. The seed proteins of both samples of M.pruriens var.utilis and M.deeringiana contained higher levels of the essential amino acids such as, threonine, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine. The antinutritional substances, total free phenolics, tannins, L-Dopa, phytic acid, hydrogen cyanide, total oxalate, trypsin inhibitor activity, oligosaccharides and phytohaemagglutinating activity were also analysed.