Supplementation of irradiated and non-irradiated cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) protein with cereal proteins

The quality of the cowpea bean protein was improved through supplementations with flours from beans exposed to microwave oven treated with cereal proteins such as wheat, rice, corn, and sorghum. Biological assays results with these blends showed that the casein exceeded the other diets concerning digestibility only; however, in parameters such as biological value, net protein utilization (NPU), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and nutritional efficiency ratio (NER), no significant differences occurred. Among all elaborated blends, the one with irradiated beans submitted to microwave oven for 30 minutes (65%) + rice (35%) presented the best results. The soup elaborated with the best supplemented blend was satisfactory concerning color, odor, flavor and texture.     

Nutritive value of baobab milk (gubdi) and mixtures of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and hungry rice,acha (Digitaria exilis) flours

The baobab milk and fermented baobab/acha flour mixtures were analyzed chemically for their proximate, ascorbate, mineral and antinutrient composition. The dry pulp scraped from baobab fruits was kneaded, made into solution, extracted through cheese-cloth and stored frozen until analyzed. The acha and baobab grains were cleaned, fermented for 24 to 120 hours, dried and hammermilled into fine flours. The unfermented flours served as controls. The standard assay methods of AOAC were selected for use for the analysis of the nutrients and the antinutrients. The mixtures were composed of 70% acha and 30% baobab flours (70:30 protein basis). The baobab milk contained more protein (1.5%) and minerals (Fe, 17.8 mg; Ca 134.2 mg) than those of human milk (protein, 1.3%, Fe, 0.2 mg, Ca 30 mg) and cow milk (Fe, 0.1 mg; Ca 1.20 mg) and most leading national commercial infant formulas e.g. cerelac (Fe, 10.0 mg). The composite flours contained more nutrients than the baobab or the acha flour alone. The BF96 had greater advantage over other BF flours as a supplement to acha. The mixtures are within the reach of lower income group and can be incorporated into their diets.     

Effect of cereal-legumechapati diets on absorption and retention of calcium

Wheatchapati, wheat+Bengal gram (8020 and 7030)chapatis and casein diets, at 10 percent protein level, were fed to rats for 12 weeks to study the effect on calcium utilization. The supplementation of Bengal gram to wheat diets significantly improved the calcium absorption. The urinary calcium excretion in wheat+Bengal gramchapati diets was significantly less than that of wheatchapati diet fed group. The in vivo⁴⁵Ca absorption (CPM/100 l serum) was also less in wheatchapati group as compared to wheat+Bengal gramchapati diets fed groups. The supplementation of legumes to cereals improved the calcium utilization and it may be concluded that there will be no risk of occurance of protein induced hypercalciuria.     

Alternative Food/Feed Perspectives of an Underutilized Legume <Emphasis Type="Bold">Mucuna pruriens</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Bold">Utilis</Emphasis>—A Review

Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, an underutilized tropical legume has a nutritional quality comparable to soya beans and other conventional legumes as it contains similar proportions of protein, lipid, minerals, and other nutrients. The beans have been traditionally used as a food in a number of countries, viz., India, Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, and Malawi. Recently, the velvet beans are exploited as a protein source in the diets of fish, poultry, pig, and cattle after subjected to appropriate processing methods. Although the velvet beans contain high levels of protein and carbohydrate, their utilization is limited due to the presence of a number of antinutritional/antiphysiological compounds, phenolics, tannins, L-Dopa, lectins, protease inhibitors, etc., which may reduce the nutrient utilization. Unfortunately, even though many researchers all over the world working on Mucuna, only scanty and conflicting information are available regarding its utilization as a food/feed and no scientific gathering to date has focused on the food/feed applications of Mucuna. Hence, the present review has been emphasized on the nutritional potential of this underutilized, nonconventional legume and current state of its utilization as food/feed for both human beings and livestock throughout the world.     

The nutritive value of all-vegetable protein diets based on legume,cereal and tuber in weanling rats

Thirty albino weanling male rats (45–55 g) were divided into five groups of six rats each on the basis of body weight and fed combinations of dehulled brown beans (DBB); parboiled rice (R); and cassava meal (G) which provided 10% protein for 35 days. Casein served as the reference protein. Combinations of DBB (50–80%); with R (18–48%); and G (2%) produced varied effects on body weight, nitrogen (N) intake, N digestibility and retention, BV, liver weight and plasma albumin (P<0.05).The DBB:R:G (70:28:2) blend induced decreases in all the parameters tested except for the BV and PER values. The control group produced digested and retained N, protein efficiency ratio (PER), weight gain and liver weight that were significantly higher than for those of the test diets (P<0.05). These results appear to suggest that starchy foods when blended with legumes at low levels produced good quality protein comparable to casein.     

Bioavailability of tryptophan in selected foods by rat growth assay

Tryptophan bioavailabilities were estimated in 16 protein sources using 10 day rat growth assays with casein as the reference protein. Growth responses of rats fed test food diets were compared to growth responses of rats fed basal diets with graded levels of tryptophan ranging from 50 to 100 mg of tryptophan/100 g diet. Estimates of tryptophan availabilities were 85–100% for all products except whole wheat cereal (73%) and pinto beans (59%). Results of a previous study on lysine availability indicated that poor response to pinto beans was due either to poor digestibility or to the presence of some unidentified growth inhibitor.     

Protein quality of some Nigerian traditional diets based on the African yambean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)

The protein quality of Nigerian traditional diets based on the African yambean (AYB) and pigeon pea (PP) were performed by in vivo and in vitro bioassays. The individual foods were processed, cooked, dried and mixed to resemble the traditional diets. Weanling male Wistar rats (45–55 g) were used for the bioassay. The rats were fed ad libitum for 35 days of which 28 days were for growth and 7 days for N-balance. All the eleven diets including casein (control) provided 1.6 g N/100 g diet. The parameters tested include PER, growth, N-balance, BV, NPU and apparent digestibility (AD). The rats fed the AYB diets, except AYB: Agidi (Ag), showed superiority in most of the parameters tested. There were significant positive correlations between PER and NPU (r=0.925;p<0.001); PER and AD (r=0.908;p<0.001); PER and body weight gain (r=0.969;p<0.001). The in vitro protein digestibility of the diets was significantly correlated (r=0.80;p<0.01) with the in vivo apparent digestibility. These parameters were used to rank the various diets. Crayfish protein was a better supplement to legume/cereal or legume starchy staple mixtures than leguminous oil seed. However, supplementation of PP: steamed corn (SC) diet with crayfish did not prove beneficial. The result showed that diets based on the African yambean, an under-exploited legume, are nutritious. The need for its reintroduction into the fare of the populace through increased production and appropriate processing technology is stressed. The results of this study can form a base for the standardization of Nigerian diets based on these legumes.     

Comparison of two methods for determining in vitro intestinal absorption of nutrients using rats fed different diets

Absorption of sucrose, glucose, leucine and aspartate was studied using intestinal everted sac of rats fed on french bean diets namely PDR-14, HUR-137 and HUR-15 using casein as a control. Absorption of nutrients was monitored spectrophotometrically and by¹⁴C radio assay of metabolites using scientillation counting. The absorption pattern of amino acids was found to be similar but of glucose and sucrose differed. Glucose was found to be more absorbed than sucrose in spectrophotometer assay and the pattern reversed in radio assay. Absorption of sucrose and leucine were higher by rats fed on HUR-137 diet and similarly, more aspartate was absorbed when fed on HUR-15 diet as demonstrated by both the methods. Rats fed on HUR-137 diet exhibited higher glucose absorption as shown by spectrophotometric assay, but rats on HUR-15 diet by radio assay. Absorption of nutrients differed significantly between casein and french beans.     

The effects of sprouting times on nutritive value of two varieties of african yam bean (sphenostylis stenocarpa)

Forty-eight rats (80–125 g) were used to determine the nutritive value of two sprouted varieties of African yam bean. The cream and brown varieties were each sprouted for 36, 48 and 72 h and blended with corn in a 70:30 ratio (protein basis) to provide 1.6 g N/100 g diet for the entire study period. Sprouting for 48 h caused an increase in most of the parameters tested for both varieties. Sprouting increased natural enhancement of nutrients.     

Chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) fed to growing pigs

Pearl millet grown at two different locations in the U.S.A., pearl millet A (PMA) and pearl millet B (PMB), were analyzed for chemical composition and nutrient content and compared to corn. The two samples of pearl millet and corn were incorporated into diets and fed to 24 growing pigs in a metabolism trial to determine nitrogen and mineral balance and digestibilities of energy, fat and amino acids. Pearl millet (PMA and PMB) was found to be richer in crude protein, gross energy, ether extract, acid detergent fiber, amino acid profile and mineral content than corn. However, digestibilities of dry matter (corn, 86·8%; PMA, 80·5%; PMB, 82·0%) and energy (corn, 85·3%; PMA, 78·8%; PMB, 80·5%) were higher (P<0·05) for corn than either of the pearl millet samples. Fat digestibility was much higher in pearl millet than corn. Although nitrogen intake and absorption were higher (P<0·05) for pearl millet, the digestibility of nitrogen was similar for pearl millet and corn. Net protein utilization was lower (P<0·05) in pearl millet when compared to corn (corn, 44·8%; PMA, 34·6%; PMB, 39·9%). Digestibilities of the essential amino acids, arginine, threonine, valine, isoleucine and lysine were higher in pearl millet than corn. Phosphorus retention, expressed as a percentage of intake and absorption, was higher in corn than pearl millet. Calcium intake and absorption were similar for pearl millet and corn. Intake and absorption of magnesium and managanese were also similar in pearl millet and corn. Zinc and copper retention, when expressed as a percentage of intake, were higher in corn, but absorption for both minerals was similar in corn and pearl millet. Pearl millet was found to supersede corn in nutrient content and amino acid digestibility.     

Chemical composition and biological evaluation of Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) seeds and their kernels

Okra (Hibiscus esculentus) whole seeds and their kernels were analysed for their nutrient composition. They were rich in protein as well as fat. Most of the protein and fat of the seed is accumulated in the kernel while crude fiber is concentrated in the seed coat or hull. Its essential amino acid composition was nearly equal to that of the WHO/FAO reference pattern (1973), but lower than that of whole egg protein; its chemical score was 67. Diets containing whole seed and kernel protein at the 10% level were fed to weanling rats both in the raw and cooked forms for 4 weeks. Dry matter digestibility and protein digestibility of whole seed diets were significantly lower than the kernel diets. Cooking improved PER and NPU values of both the whole grain and kernel diets. These results indicated that dietary fiber present in the hull of Okra seed as well as heat labile antinutritional factors present in the seed hinder Okra seed protein utilization.     

Use of two varieties of hard-to-cook beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) in the processing of koki (a steamed legume product)

Koki is a nutritious cowpea-based food product usually processed by steam cooking whipped cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) paste mixed with spices and palm oil. A study was carried out to investigate the effect of the partial replacement of cowpeas (CP) with hard-to-cook (HTC) beans on the chemical, nutritional and sensory characteristics of koki. Towards this objective, two varieties of beans – Phaseolus vulgaris (red kidney beans – RKB and mottled brown beans – MBB), each with the HTC defect, were separately incorporated into cowpea paste in the following Bean:CP ratios 0:100, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and processed into koki. Incorporation of dry HTC beans into cowpeas in the making of koki affected the bulking properties of the uncooked paste, the nutrient composition, essential amino acid content, antinutritional factors, digestibility as well as the sensory attributes of cooked koki. Sensory tests showed that a highly acceptable, nutritious and digestible koki can be processed from cowpeas partially replaced with dry HTC bean paste up to levels of about 40–50% depending on the variety of dry bean used.     

Protein quality of diets based on tuber,legume, and cereal in weanling rats

Weanling male rats (45–55 g) were studied to evaluate the protein quality of diets based on combinations of yam (YA); dehulled brown bean (DBB), dehulled white bean (DWB); and corn flour (PA) that provided 1.6 g N/100 g of diet. Casein served as the reference protein. Rats fed combinations of PA, DBB, and DWB had increases in food intake, weight gain, N intake, digested and retained N, and liver N compared to those of the casein control group and the other test groups (P < 0.05). Supplementation of YA with DBB or DWB reduced weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), N intake, digested and retained N, NPU and liver N values of the animals when compared with those fed the casein and the other diets containing YA. Combinations of DBB or DWB with PA appear to be the best mixtures as shown by food and N intakes, digested and retained N, liver N, and weight gain. These mixtures may possibly be economic sources of N for weaning children where these are staples in the diet.     

Interaction of Dietary Fat and Soybean Isolate (SBI) on Azaserine-induced Pancreatic Carcinogenesis

Raw soybean flour contains high levels of both soybean trypsin inhibitor and unsaturated fat. The chronic ingestion of this flour enhances pancreatic carcinogenesis in rats that have been treated with pancreatic carcinogens. In these studies we have examined the separate and combined effects of trypsin inhibitor in purified soybean isolate (SBI) and a high level of unsaturated fat fed during the postinitiation phase of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats were injected with the known pancreatic carcinogen azaserine (30 mg/kg, ip) 14 days after birth and were weaned to the test diets. No further exposure to carcinogen occurred. Dietary composition (% by weight) of fat (corn oil) was either 5%, or for the high fat group 20%. Dietary protein (20% in all diets) was supplied as either casein, or heated or raw SBI. All diets were fedad libitum for the postinitiation phase. The number and size of transections of azaserine-induced putative, preneoplastic foci and the volume of pancreas occupied by these foci were determined by light microscopy. High fat diet increased the number and transectional size of the azaserine-induced foci as compared to the control (5% corn oil) group. The volume of pancreas occupied by foci doubled. Heated SBI had no effect upon the foci. Raw SBI, however, significantly increased the number and size of foci. The combination of raw SBI plus the high fat diet elicited an increase in focal growth that was greater than that produced by either component alone. These observations indicated that both trypsin inhibitor and the high unsaturated fat content of raw soy flour contribute to the enhancement or promotion of pancreatic carcinogenesis.     

Nutrient composition and biological evaluation of mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seeds

Two varieties of mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seeds were analysed for their proximate composition. Their protein (18.8–22.3%), fat (19.1–22.8%) and dietary fiber (39.5–42.6%) contents were found to be high. The seeds were found to be a good source of minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Their lysine and tryptophan contents were also high. Sulphur containing amino acids were limiting in this seed protein and the chemical score of mesta seed protein was 40 and 57 for AMV-2 and Bhimili-1 varieties respectively. Mesta seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (70%), of which linoleic acid constituted 44%. Weanling rats were fed with 10% mesta seed protein before and after cooking for 4 weeks. Food intake of animals receiving raw mesta seed diets was significantly lower than those receiving cooked mesta seed diets as well as the casein control diet. Protein and dry matter digestibilities of raw and cooked mesta seed diets were lower than that of casein control diet. Cooking improved the food intake, gain in body weight, dry matter and protein digestibility of mesta seed diets. PER and NPU of cooked mesta seed diets were significantly higher than the corresponding raw diets. These results indicate that cooked mesta seed protein is of relatively good quality.     

The nutritional properties of extruded and non-extruded corn fiber isolate

The feed efficiency and selected organ weights of rats fed diets containing 3 or 7% corn fiber, extruded corn fiber or silica were compared to rats fed a fiber-free diet. No significant differences were found in feed efficiency, spleen, lung or liver weights for any of the treatments relative to the fiber-free control diet.     

The nutritional quality and toxin content of wild and cultivated lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

Proximal analysis, amino acid profile, trypsin inhibitor content, hemagglutinin content and HCN generated from cyanogenic glucosides were determined in four wild and three cultivated varieties ofPhaseolus lunatus. All the wild beans showed a higher protein content than the cultivated beans, but no big differences were found in the other nutrients. The essential amino acid percentage was higher in the cultivated beans than in the wild seeds, which was reflected in the PER determination. The most remarkable difference found between wild and cultivated beans was the high concentration of HCN in all wild varieties. The high concentration of protein found in the wild seed could be a false result from the nitrogen provided by the cyanogenic glucosides.     

Some nutritional studies on kidney bean proteins

Three feeding experiments were carried out on weanling rats fed diets containing 40% kidney bean as the sole protein source in the diet (NDPCal %=4.0) or in the presence of wheat (NDPCal %=6.9) or wheat and casein (NDPCal %=10.2). Animals fed diet containing 20% casein (NDPCal %=10.2) were the only group which grew up almost normally. The first two groups lost weight persistantly and the mortality rate reached 50% within 18 days. Soaking of the beans did not raise the mortality of animals. Autoclaving of the beans for one hour at 16 lb/sq. in. improved the digestibility of the bean protein and gave a net protein utilization of 58.

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Zusammenfassung An entwöhnten Ratten wurden mit drei verschiedenen Diäten Fütterungsversuche durchgeführt. Die erste Diät enthielt als einzigen Proteinträger 40% Bohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris) (NDP Cal %=4,0), die zweite als weiteren Proteinträger Weizen (NDP Cal %=6,9) und die dritte neben Bohnen und Weizen Casein (NDP Cal %=10,2). Die Tiergruppe deren Diät 20% Casein enthielt war die einzige, die normal aufwuchs. Die ersten beiden Gruppen verloren ständig an Gewicht und innerhalb von 18 Tagen waren 50% der Ratten eingegangen. Einweichen der Bohnen erniedrigte die Mortalität der Tiere nicht. Autoklavierung der Bohnen erhöhte den Verdaulichkeitskoeffizienten von 37 auf 85.

     

Dietary Supplementation of Brown Seaweed and/or Nucleotides Improved Shrimp Performance,Health Status and Cold-Tolerant Gene Expression of Juvenile Whiteleg Shrimp during the Winter Season

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Sargassum polycystum and nucleotides- supplemented diets to improve immune response and cold-tolerance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. Four treatments were evaluated: T1, the control, shrimp received only a basal diet; T2, a basal diet with 500 ppm nucleotides; T3, a basal diet with 500 ppm S. polycystum powdered; T4, a basal diet with 500 ppm nucleotides and 500 ppm S. polycystum powdered. Shrimp were fed experimental diets for 56 days. Results revealed shrimp fed T4 diet exhibited the best significant improvement in water quality, survival, growth, and feed utilization indices followed by T2, and T3, while T1 showed the worst values. Additionally, nonspecific immune responses (phagocytosis (%), lysozyme, phenoloxidase, super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total nitric oxide) were improved with 1.7–3.2-fold in T4 higher than T1. Histomorphology of hepatopancreas in T4 showed the most increased activation of the hepatic glandular duct system compared with the other treatments. Moreover, nucleotides/seaweed-supplemented diets upregulated relative expression of cMnSOD, Penaeidin4, and heat shock protein70 (HSP70) genes, while translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was downregulated. In conclusion, the synergistic effects of both S. polycystum and nucleotides have many advantages as a growth promoter, immunostimulant, antimicrobial, and cold-tolerant stimulant to L. vannamei.     

A Non-digestible Fraction of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis During Early Carcinogenesis

We have previously demonstrated that the non-digestible fraction (NDF) from common cooked beans (P. vulgaris L., cv Negro 8025) inhibits azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer and influences the expression of genes involved in the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through the action of butyrate. The objective of this study was to identify cell cycle alterations and morphological changes induced by treatment with AOM and to examine the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in male Sprague Dawley rats fed with these beans. Rats were fed control diets upon arrival and were randomly placed into four groups after one week of acclimatization: control, NDF (intragastric administration), NDF?+?AOM and AOM. Rats treated with NDF?+?AOM exhibited a significantly lower number of total colonic ACF with a notable increase in the number of cells present in the G₁ phase (83.14 %); a decreased proliferation index was observed in the NDF?+?AOM group when compared to AOM group. NDF?+?AOM also displayed a higher number of apoptotic cells compared to AOM group. NDF of cooked common beans inhibited colon carcinogenesis at an early stage by inducing cell cycle arrest of colon cells and morphological changes linked to apoptosis, thus confirming previous results obtained with gene expression studies.