Quick-cooking beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): II. Phytates,oligosaccharides, and antienzymes

Effects of the quick-cooking processes on phytate and oligosaccharide levels, and on trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, were investigated in three bean varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris L.: Great Northern, red kidney, and pinto). Beans soaked in distilled water had lower levels of phytate-P than those soaked in a mixed salt solution. Leaching losses of oligosaccharides were nearly the same in different soaking treatments for all the beans except kidney beans. Residual trypsin inhibitor activities (TIA) in cooked quick-cooking beans were about 10% compared with about 20% for chymotrypsin inhibitor activities (CTIA) in the same bean products. -Irradiation was more effective in reducing TIA than CTIA and paralleled destruction by moist heat.Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Journal article no. 2480.     

Effect of Cooking Procedures and Storage on Starch Bioavailability in Common Beans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.)

Common commercial beans were cooked using two procedures: under pressure (autoclaving) and traditional cooking. Total starch extraction was higher in beans cooked with the traditional procedure (41.69–42.81%) than in the autoclaved samples (37.04–38.16%) and did not change during storage at 4 °C. However, available and total resistant starch levels in vitro were not influenced by the cooking procedure or storage. Retrograded resistant starch content was higher in beans cooked with the traditional process (2.65–2.79%) than in autoclaved beans (1.62–1.94%). The initial in vitro -amylolysis rate in freshly cooked beans was higher in the autoclaved preparation than in the beans cooked by the traditional process, but final hydrolysis indices (90 min) were similar for both samples. None of the bean samples showed statistical differences in -amylolysis behavior (=0.05) after storage at 4 °C for 96 hour.     

Influence of phytate on in vitro digestibility of casein under physiological conditions

The phytic acid content of four different varieties of beans under different processing conditions was estimated. It was highest in red kidney (1.86–2.13%) slightly lower in pigeon (1.86–2.03%), white (1.80–1.96%) and black eyed beans (1.15–1.64%). There was no significant change in phytic acid content of beans after soaking at 25°C for 22 hours. However, both soaking and cooking revealed 26–37% loss of phytic acid in all four varieties of beans.The rate of in vitro casein digestibility with and without phytic acid at concentrations found in legumes was determined at pH 8 and 37°C using multienzyme technique. Addition of 5 mg Na-phytate reduced the casein digestibility up to 20% compared to the control. However, only 25% reduction of casein digestibility was observed in the presence of 25 mg of Na-phytate. Higher concentration of Na-phytate had no significant effect on the rate of casein digestibility. Data strongly suggest the formation of protein phytate complex at alkaline pH of small intestine.Part of this work was presented at the XIII International Congress of Nutrition in Brighton, UK in August 1985.     

Digestibility of protein and amino acids in selected foods as determined by a rat balance method

Values (%) for true digestibility of crude protein and individual amino acids in 20 selected foods were determined by the rat balance (fecal) method. The products were fed as the sole source of protein in diets containing 8% crude protein (N × 6.25). Lowest true protein digestibility values (79–84) were obtained for pinto beans, kidney beans and lentils; intermediate values (89–92) were obtained for chick peas, beef stew, skim milk (over heated), rolled oats, whole wheat cereal, and pea protein concentrate; and highest values (94–100) were obtained for sausage, macaroni-cheese, rice-wheat gluten cereal, skim milk, tuna, soy isolate, peanut butter, chicken frankfurters, beef salami, casein and casein + methionine. In animal foods, peanut butter and soy isolate, the differences between true digestibility of crude protein and most individual amino acids were less than 5%. However, the values for true digestibility of methionine and cystine were up to 44% lower than those of crude protein in pinto beans, kidney beans, lentils, chick peas and pea concentrate. In these legumes, digestibility of crude protein was not a good predictor of digestibility of the limiting amino acids.     

Properties of starch and dietary fibre in raw and processed quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa,Willd) seeds

We investigated certain properties of starch in raw and in heat-treated samples of quinoa, properties that are of importance to the nutritional quality of an infant food currently being developed. Scanning electron microscopy of the starch in raw seeds showed polygonal granules (0.6 to 2.0 µm diameter) to be present both singly and as spherical aggregates. Thermograms (DSC) of the flours showed one transition phase for gelatinisation of the starch and another for the amylose-lipid complex. The gelatinisation temperature of the starch was 67°C. Cooked samples manifested the highest degree of gelatinisation (97%), followed by the drum-dried (96%) and autoclaved (27%) samples. Separation of the starch on a SEPHAROSE CL-2B column showed the quinoa starch to be affected by the heat treatment, manifesting changes in the degree and extent of degradation. The amylograph viscosity of the quinoa flour showed no distinct peak for pasting, but the viscosity remained constant after gelatinisation. Cooking and autoclaving modified the viscosity of the paste. The drum-dried sample manifested a higher initial viscosity at 25°C. Thein vitro digestibility of raw quinoa starch determined by incubation for 60 min with -amylase was 22%, while that of autoclaved, cooked and drum-dried samples was 32%, 45% and 73%, respectively. Saponins did not affect the digestibility of the starch, though they tended to increase the amylograph viscosity. The total dietary fibre content in the cooked sample (11.0%) was significantly lower than that in the autoclaved (13.2%), drum-dried (13.3%) or raw samples (13.3%), while the insoluble dietary fibre fraction in the samples did not change with heat treatment. However, as compared with that of raw quinoa, the soluble dietary fibre fraction was reduced significantly both by cooking (0.9%) and by autoclaving (1.0%).     

The effect of slow-cooking on the trypsin inhibitor and hemagglutinating activities and in vitro digestibility of brown beans (Phaseolus vulgaris,var.Stella) and kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris,var.Montcalm)

Brown beans and kidney beans were subjected to two modes of cooking in a household slow cooker: (A), a fixed low setting for 10 h, and (B), a high setting for 2.5 h and a low setting for 7.5 h. Temperature changes in the beans were recorded. With treatment A over 90% of the hemagglutinating and trypsin inhibitor activities occurred after 6 h at which time the temperature had reached 80°C. With treatment B inactivation of these activities was almost complete at the end of 2 h when a maximum temperature of 100°C had been attained. The in vitro digestibility of the bean protein was considerably increased by either treatment. By way of contrast, only 20 min of heating was required to destroy these activities when the beans were brought to a boil in an open vessel.     

Quality attributes of three new improved lines of Nigerian lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L. Walp.)

Three promising new improved lines of lima beans (Tpl 1^B, Tpl 7^A and Tpl 175^A) were evaluated for physicochemical properties and cooking quality. The beans varied in seed dimensions and weights with Tpl 1^B and Tpl 7^A having smaller seed volume than Tpl 175^A. Seed coat percentages, leached solids and swelling capacities were within a range of 10.2–19.6% (w/w), 0.44–0.92 g/100 g and 94.0–121.0 g/100 g dry bean, respectively. Cooking times varied between 62 and 81 min without soaking and were reduced by about 34%following a presoaking treatment in water for 12 h at room temperature (28 ± 1 °C). Small seeds absorbed higher amounts of water during soaking and required more cooking time than larger seeds. No significant (p>0.05) difference in cooked texture was found between unsoaked beans cooked for 50 min and soaked beans cooked for 30 min,suggesting that cooking times and cooked texture for all lines were improved through soaking.     

Effect of thermal processing and storage on digestibility of starch in whole wheat grains

Gelatinisation and retrogradation of starch in wheat flour systems and whole wheat grains were studied using DSC and the impact of these events on starch digestibility was investigated. Gelatinisation of starch was possible in wheat flours with more than 60% moisture content (dwb) and gelatinised samples had higher digestibility values. Retrogradation of starch was studied with partially and fully cooked (boiled at 100 °C for 12 min and 32 min, respectively) wheat grains that were subjected to storage at 22 °C for 48 h. Stored samples had lower digestibility values when compared to the freshly cooked counterparts. The effect of moisture on retrogradation was studied with fully cooked wheat grains that were dried to a range of moisture contents (14.6–35.9%, wwb) and stored at 20 °C for 24 h. Retrogradation enthalpy increased with increasing moisture content; however, digestibility values did not reflect the changes in retrogradation enthalpy. The possibility of estimating the degree of retrogradation in fully cooked grains (32 min cooking) was investigated using a wheat flour-water system. The retrogradation enthalpy of fully cooked grains was slightly higher than the wheat flour-water system (at a moisture content of 49%, wwb) during the course of storage at 22 °C.     

Soaking and cooking parameters of tepary beans: effects of cooking time and cooking temperature on hardness and activity of nutritional antagonists

Tepary samples were examined for patterns of hydration, dry matter losses during the processes of soaking and cooking, residual hardness in partially cooked samples and heat lability of endogenous proteinaceous antinutritional factors. At 24 °C, teparies imbibed water equivalent to their weight (100% hydration) in 4 h and continued to absorb water rapidly for an additional 4 h before reaching an equilibrium hydration. During the processes of soaking and cooking, materials leached from raw beans represented 7.3 and 13.5% of their dry weight, 4.3 and 12.4% of their protein content, 7.1 and 12.2% of their stored carbohydrate and 22.4 and 33.4% of their mineral levels, respectively. In samples prepared at different cooking times (60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min) and cooking temperatures (80, 85, 90, 95°C), longer times and higher temperatures resulted in greater reductions in residual bean hardness; interactive effects of time and temperature treatments were significant. Residual activity of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors in partially-cooked samples appeared to be negligible. In addition, at least 80% of the original hemaglutinating activity of lectins in raw beans was lost during partial-cooking of samples under all cooking regimes.     

Tannin contents and protein digestibility of black grams (Vigna mungo) after soaking and cooking

The objective of this research was to ascertain the effects of soaking black grams (Cultivar AARI-5732)in different salt solutions at different temperatures and different timeperiods, and different methods of cooking on the tannin content and proteindigestibility. Tannin content of black grams was reduced to variousextents by soaking at 30^° and 100 ^°C for different timeperiods. However, soaking at 100 ^°C increased the rate ofextraction and reduced the extraction time of tannins. Soaking black gramsin water at 100 ^°C reduced tannins by 22.14% in 45 minuteswhereas about 2.5 times more tannin was reduced after soaking in sodiumbicarbonate solution with or without sodium chloride. Maximumimprovement in protein digestibility was also observed after soaking blackgrams in sodium bicarbonate solution. Tannin contents were furtherreduced along with improvement in protein digestibility as a result ofcooking.     

Changes in dietary fiber content and its composition as affected by processing of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris,Tamazulapa variety)

This paper presents the effect that the traditional cooking process of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, Tamazulapa variety) has on the quantity and composition of soluble (SDF) and insoluble (IDF) dietary fiber of beans, as well as on its protein digestibility and protein quality. There was an increase of IDF from 18.1% in cooked beans to 22.4% in fried beans, and a decrease in SDF from 8.4% to 6.6%, respectively. Starch content decreased from 34.5% to 31.3%. No change was found in lignin. The xylose content was higher in IDF than in SDF and decreased to some extent from cooked to fried beans. Arabinose content was similar in IDF and SDF with no change caused by processing. The fraction containing glucose, mannose and galactose in IDF was higher than in SDF, the content increasing in IDF and decreasing in SDF, with processing. Protein content in IDF was higher than in SDF, with no major change when processing. About 29.5% of the total protein of beans was bound in DF. Protein digestibility and protein quality decreased from cooked to fried beans and was positively related to IDF.     

Influence of temperature on the fermentation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) to produce a dawadawa-type product

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) was fermented to produce a dawadawa-type product using a starter culture of Bacillus licheniformis isolated from naturally fermenting bambara groundnut beans. Fermentation was carried out at 30 and 37 °C for four days and at 45 °C for two days. The pH of the substrate decreased after 24 hours and then rose at 30 and 37 °C but remained constant at 45 °C after the initial drop. Total titratable acidity of the fermenting beans mimicked the pH values. Proximate analyses for moisture, protein and fat of the cotyledons showed an increase in all three constituent at each of the three fermentation temperatures. At the end of fermentation, total available carbohydrate was 55%, 59% and 62% of the original value at 30, 37 and 45 °C, respectively. Fermentation of bambara groundnut at 45 °C for two days is recommended as the ideal fermentation temperature and time.     

Relationship between content and intake of bean polyphenolics and protein digestibility in humans

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bean polyphenolics on bean protein digestibility in humans. Steam pressure cooking decreased tannic acid in beans by: 38.2 (white), 23.9 (red), 38.5 (white:black mixture, 50:50), 20.5 (Ipala black) and 44.4% (Jalpatagua black). The reduction in catechin was: 57.5, 97.6, 83.0, 78.7 and 88.4%, respectively. The content of tannic acid in dried cooked beans was: 284.9 in white, 834.5 in red, 620.2 in the white:black mixture, 1,021 in Ipala black and 1,009 mg/100 g in the Jalpatagua black bean. These percentages correlate significantly with fecal nitrogen (r=0.29, p<0.05). Catechin of the dried cooked beans was 7.5 in white, 27.4 in red, 25.4 in the white:black mixture (50:50), and 60.1 and 55.5 mg/100 g in each of the black cultivars, and correlated significantly with fecal nitrogen (r=0.34, p<0.01), absorbed nitrogen (r=–0.37, p<0.01) and protein digestibility (r=–0.35, p<0.01). It was concluded that one of the factors that reduces bean protein digestibility is the polyphenlic compound.     

Bioavailability of lysine in selected foods by rat growth assay

Lysine bioavailabilities in reference protein and 16 test protein diets were estimated using 10 day rat growth assays. A standard growth curve was obtained by feeding 5 diets containing casein, zein and synthetic amino acids ranging in total lysine concentration from 0.3 to 0.7%. Experimental foods were added to the basal diet at the expense of zein and/or synthetic amino acids to provide 2 specific lysine concentrations, i.e., 0.4 and 0.6%. Availabilities were established by comparing growth responses from the test food diets to the regression line of the standard growth data. Availabilities were over 88% for 13 of 16 products. Utilization was poor in pinto beans (73%), rice-wheat gluten cereal (70%), and skim milk powder heated to 100°C for 12 h (66%). Addition of excess lysine (700 mg/100 g diet) to the pinto bean diet did not improve growth response; thus poor digestibility or some unidentified growth inhibitor is indicated.     

Influence of hardening procedure and soaking solution on cooking quality of common beans

Two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties were seeded in the same location, harvested and cleaned. Three hardening procedures were used (soaking in acetate buffer, pH 4.1 at 37°C for 5 h; storage at 37°C, 100% RH for 28 days; and storage at 31–33°C, 76% RH for 120 days) to have seeds in a hard-to-cook (HTC) state. The adverse effects of HTC condition, in terms of cooking time as assessed by a Mattson bean cooker, were practically eliminated by soaking seeds in salt solutions (1% NaCl+0.75% NaHCO₃; and 0.75% NaHCO₃) instead of only water. Ultrastructural changes of cotyledon cells from fresh, HTC and softened seeds were observed. Results of this study may be used for the development of a technological procedure to utilize properly HTC beans generated by unefficient storage systems.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of thermal processing and storage on digestibility of starch in whole wheat grains

Gelatinisation and retrogradation of starch in wheat flour systems and whole wheat grains were studied using DSC and the impact of these events on starch digestibility was investigated. Gelatinisation of starch was possible in wheat flours with more than 60% moisture content (dwb) and gelatinised samples had higher digestibility values. Retrogradation of starch was studied with partially and fully cooked (boiled at 100 °C for 12 min and 32 min, respectively) wheat grains that were subjected to storage at 22 °C for 48 h. Stored samples had lower digestibility values when compared to the freshly cooked counterparts. The effect of moisture on retrogradation was studied with fully cooked wheat grains that were dried to a range of moisture contents (14.6–35.9%, wwb) and stored at 20 °C for 24 h. Retrogradation enthalpy increased with increasing moisture content; however, digestibility values did not reflect the changes in retrogradation enthalpy. The possibility of estimating the degree of retrogradation in fully cooked grains (32 min cooking) was investigated using a wheat flour-water system. The retrogradation enthalpy of fully cooked grains was slightly higher than the wheat flour-water system (at a moisture content of 49%, wwb) during the course of storage at 22 °C.     

Changes in chemical and selected biochemical components,protein quality,and digestibility of mung bean (Vigna radiata) during gemination and cooking

The effect of germination on the nutritive value of mung beans (Vigna radiata) was studied in raw and cooked samples after 0, 2 and 4 days of germination. Water content increased, but crude protein, lipids, crude fiber, ash and carbohydrates decreased with germination. Trypsin inhibitor activity did not change significantly while hemagglutinins were absent. Essential amino acids (methionine, tyrptophan and lysine) decreased with germination.Net protein ratio (NPR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) in rats decreased with germination especially in cooked sprouts. True digestibility did not change consistently due to germination or cooking. In conclusion, loss of protein quality in mung beans occurs upon germination and cooking.Publication INCAP/UNU-4.     

Effects of soaking,cooking and fermentation on composition,in-vitro starch digestibility and nutritive value of common beans

A common bean variety, grown in Burundi, was either fermented, soaked and/or cooked, and then assessed for nutrient composition, in-vitro starch digestibility and protein nutritive value. A decrease in ash, most minerals, vitamins, and some essential amino acids was noted for soaked, cooked and soaked-cooked beans. Compared to untreated beans, soaking decreased soluble sugar (9.8 percent) but increased starch (7.3 percent) and soluble fiber (16.9 percent). In cooked beans, an increase in soluble sugar (1.5 percent), and a decrease in thiamine (81.7 percent), starch (24.6 percent) and soluble fiber (16.6 percent) and nitrogen (2.9 percent) contents were observed. Crude fiber (6.9 percent) and starch (10.0 percent) increased while fat (17.6 percent), fatty acids (linoleic: 10.7 percent; linolenic: 14.3 percent) and soluble sugars (25.4 percent) and nitrogen (14.4 percent) decreased in soaked-cooked beans. Fermentation increased potassium (11.6 percent), soluble fiber (18.9 percent), and some amino acids but decreased fatty acids (linoleic: 13.5 percent; linolenic: 19.9 percent), soluble sugar (75.2 percent) and vitamin (riboflavin: 41.0 percent; niacin: 24.5 percent) contents in common beans. However, the in-vitro starch digestibility was greatly improved (12.3 percent) by cooking while it decreased in soaked beans (29.2 percent). Soaking-cooking and fermentation did not have any significant effect on the digestibility of common bean starch. Finally, among the five treatments applied to common beans, only fermentation showed a significant improvement (8.3 percent) on the protein nutritive value of this legume.