Nutrient and antinutrient composition of Amaranthus muricatus

The chemical and nutritional composition of theaerial parts of Amaranthus muricatus wasassessed. This is a wild plant growing well in aridand poor soil, which are not suitable for cereals. Thematerial under study was boiled, dried and ground andthen evaluated for chemical, nutritional andantinutritional properties. Protein concentration ofthe amaranth flour was 15.74 g/100 g and total dietaryfiber content was high (53.81 g/100 g), with 79%coming from insoluble dietary fiber. The calciumcontent was 1533 mg/100 g and the Ca/P ratio (5.94)was markedly higher than the value suggested in the1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances. Fifty-ninepercent of the fatty acids present were unsaturatedwith linoleic acid accounting for 40% of the totalfatty acid content. Nitrate, hemagglutinin, trypsininhibitor and saponin contents were within thenon-critical values. Net protein utilization (NPU),true digestibility (tD) and biological value (BV)measurements indicated a nitrogen gain of 74% that ofcasein. The results of this study indicate a nutritivepotential for the A. muricatus leaves, therefore,domestication of this plant is suggested along withassessment of its chemical and nutritionalproperties.