Composition, protein quality, and toxins of seeds of the grain legumesGlycine max,Lupinusspp.,Phaseolusspp.Pisum sativum, andVicia faba

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Abstract
Proximate analyses, amino acid profiles, and protein efficiency ratios (PER) from rat-feeding trials were conducted on samples from soya beans (Glycine max), lupin species (L. angustifolius, L. albus, L. mutabilis), phaseolus species (P. lunatus, P. vulgaris), peas (Pisum sativum), and field beans (Vicia faba). These legume seeds were included as the sole protein source in diets fed to rats, with and without methionine, the first limiting amino acid. All three lupin species contained less lysine than P. vulgaris or P. sativum (as % total amino acids), and were marginal in valine. However, Lupinus angustifolius seed (with added methionine) gave growth and PER equal to reference casein and significantly superior to any of the other species when fed raw. The alkaloid content in the L. albus and L. mutabilis samples strongly inhibited growth; these lupin species ought not to be considered for food and feed use in their present form. Phaseolus lunatus (lima beans) and P. vulgaris (black, red kidney, navy, pinto beans) killed 37 of 50 rats when fed raw at 9% protein levels. Pisum sativum (field and garden peas), with methionine, gave growth at 70% of reference casein when fed raw. After cooking, all beans and peas gave very good growth and PER values. However, apparent protein digestibility was less than 80%.