Composition and properties of seeds and pods of the tree legume Prosopis juliflora (DC)

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Abstract
Seeds and whole pods of Prosopis juliflora were analysed for proximate composition, fatty acids, minerals and soluble sugars. Crude protein constituted 35 % and 10 % of the seeds and whole pods, respectively. Nitrogen free extracts (NFE) comprised approximately 45 % of the seeds and whole pods. In the case of the pods, sucrose represented approximately 75 % of the soluble sugars. The lipid of both the seeds and whole pods contained a relatively large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid as the predominant fatty acid. Levels of the macronutrients Ca, Mg, K and P were relatively low in comparison with cultivated legumes. Alkaline extraction of the seeds and whole pods showed that more than 70 % of the proteins were extractable. Maximum precipitation of the proteins was observed in the pH range 4.0‐4.5. Amino acid analysis of the isolated proteins showed relatively high levels of lysine (312mg g−l N for the seed and 438 mg g−l N for the pod protein) and adequate levels of valine, leucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine. Methionine was the most limiting amino acid. The in vitro enzymic digestibility of the proteins of Prosopis seed was comparable to that of proteins of other legume seeds.