In India, the seeds of Canavalia gladiata and C. ensiformis have traditionally been eaten by the aborigines, but they are less popular among the civilized people. The data on the chemical composition and nutritional quality of these seeds are not readily available. The proximate composition, mineral composition, the contents of total (true) proteins, seed protein fractions, profile of seed protein amino acids and certain antinutritional factors were analysed and reported in the present study. The seeds of C. ensiformis contain more crude protein, crude lipid and minerals like Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Mn than does C. gladiata. Both albumins and globulins together constitute the major bulk of seed proteins. In both the species of Canavalia investigated, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, isoleucine + leucine, tyrosine + phenylalanine and lysine are the major amino acids of seed proteins. The presence of certain antinutritional factors (total free phenols, tannins, lectins, L-DOPA, trypsin inhibitor activity) is also reported for both species of Canavalia.

No abstract

The boiled seeds of Abrus precatorius L. are eaten by the residents of the Andaman Islands in India. The seeds were analysed for proximate composition, total (true) protein, seed protein fractions, amino acid profile of seed proteins, minerals and certain antinutritional factors. The seed proteins are rich in most of the essential amino acids, and they are deficient only in cystine and threonine, when compared to the WHO/FAO requirement pattern. The antinutritional factors (total free phenols, tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity and haemagglutinating activity) were also investigated.

We explore one aspect of the relationship between migration and development: how return migrants and people who have worked or studied abroad for various lengths of time influence the health sector by bringing or sending back social remittances-ideas, practices, and know-how. Our findings are base on fieldwork in Gujarat, India. The organizations we studied and the people who work for them are embedded in both secular versus religious and highly structured versus loosely organized networks. We expected, therefore, that these returnees, and the organizations where they work, would be exposed to and appropriate different aspects of global public health. Instead, we found, that over time, their understanding of health and health care delivery became increasingly similar. Despite the different religious beliefs and philosophies of development motivating their work, how each organization understood health and how to provide it ultimately incorporated many aspects of neo-liberalism. This approach is so pervasive, and the institutions that disseminate and finance it so strong, that most providers cannot ignore it.

Three Indian tribal pulses, Bauhinia purpurea L , B racemosa Lamk and