Nutritional assessment and chemical composition of the lesser known tree legume, Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd

Abstract

The seeds of Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. were analysed for their proximate composition, minerals, protein fractions, seed protein amino acid profiles, fatty acid composition of lipids and antinutritional substances. Crude protein value was 26·5 g 100 g-1 DM. The other major nutrient contents (g 100 g-1) were crude lipid, 5·13; crude fibre, 6·78; ash, 4·12 and total crude carbohydrates, 57·5. The seeds were a rich source of minerals such as Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn. The predominant seed protein fractions were globulins and albumins. The essential amino acids, cystine, methionine, tyrosine and phenylalanine, were low and threonine, valine, isoleucine and lysine were fairly high when compared with the FAO/WHO/UNO amino acid recommended pattern. The lipids contained high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids in which linoleic acid (51·1%) was the major fatty acid. Antinutritional substances, such as total free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA and haemagglutinating activity, were also analysed. © 1994.