AMINO-ACID AND FATTY-ACID PROFILES OF THE INCA PEANUT (PLUKENETIA-VOLUBILIS)

Abstract

The Inca peanut (IP), Plukenetia volubilis, is a potential new crop indigenous to the high-altitude rain forests of the Andean region of South America. It grows as a vine and produces seeds that have a nutlike appearance and contain high amounts of oil (54%) and protein (27%). Amino acid analysis of the protein showed relatively high levels of cysteine, tyrosine, threonine, and tryptophan compared to other oilseed proteins found in the region. The IP protein is comparable to soy protein in its content of total essential amino acids and, if well digested, would compare well to the FAO/WHO/UNU amino acid scoring pattern, being marginally deficient only in lysine (43 vs. 58 mg/g of protein) and leucine (64 vs. 66 mg/g of protein). The oil contains high levels of linoleic and linolenic acids.