Chemical examination of Clitoria ternatea seeds

Abstract

Fatty acid composition determined by paper, thin layer and gas liquid chromatography revealed the presence of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in the weight ratio of 18.5, 9.5, 51.4, 16.8 and 3.8%, respectively, in Clitoria ternatea seed oil. Protein constitutes 38.4% and consists of 18 amino acids. Essential amino acid pattern is (%): lysine (6.55), histidine (2.03), threonine (3.13), phenylalanine+tyrosine (5.5), valine (5.8), methionine+cystine (1.16) and leucine+isoleucine (15.4). The seeds have been found to be rich in calories (500.5 cal/100 g). © 1981 American Oil Chemists' Society.