The dry Indian bean seed composed of starch is the major component (33%) and protein accounted for 25% of dry weight. The ability of germination to increase the nutritional quality of storage proteins was studied by germinating the Indian bean seeds for 0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 h and evaluated the nutritional quality through an in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent and true digestibility. The IVPD of raw Indian bean seeds by pepsin alone was 60.12% and the digestibility by pepsin and trypsin together improved to 64.24%. The in vitro digestibility by both processes increased appreciably with germination and marked increase was noticed in the early stage of germination. The PER values followed the same pattern as the value of weight gain of rats fed with diets containing raw and germinated Indian bean. The lowest PER values were observed with raw bean diet. However, the value increased in rats fed with diets of Indian bean germinated for different intervals of time, reaching comparable PER values with the group maintained on casein diet. The true and apparent nitrogen digestibility of raw bean low being only 82 and 72%, respectively observed with casein diet. Diets with germinated bean protein showed a marked increase in both parameters, although the values were still less than that displayed by the casein fed rats. Germination is a simple biochemical enrichment tool and significantly improves palatability, digestibility and the nutritive utilisation of proteins in Indian bean seeds.Nutritional quality of storage proteins during germination of Indian bean seeds V. Ramakrishna et al. 945 Nutritional quality of storage proteins during germination of Indian bean seeds V. Ramakrishna et al.

PurposeThis paper aims to study the changes in anti‐nutritional factors during the germination of the Indian bean and also to carryout an evaluation by subjecting it to different cooking treatments – boiling, roasting and pressure cooking.Design/methodology/approachThe healthy Indian bean (Dolichos lablab L.) seeds were soaked for 12 h and allowed to germinate (sprout) at room temperature 27±2○C for a period of 32 h. Seedlings were withdrawn at designated time intervals and used for analysis of anti‐nutritional factors like trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA), phytic acid, polyphenols and tannins of dried and germinated cotyledons. They were also evaluated regarding their changes by subjecting to different cooking treatments – boiling, roasting and pressure cooking.FindingsThe raw dry Indian bean had a very high TIA which decreases progressively to 17 per cent at 32 h germination period. An overall fall in polyphenols of 70 per cent, tannins 46 per cent, phytic acids 36 per cent and phytate phosphorus to 30 per cent was noticed during the 32 h germination period. Maximum reduction was observed in TIA and phytic acids with roasting, while the boiling and pressure cooking decreases the levels of polyphenols and tannins.Originality/valueThe paper proves that germination is a more effective method in reducing TIA, tannins, polyphenols and phytic acid than the various cooking treatments.

Purpose -Legume seeds provide one of the most concentrated sources of nutrients rich in fibre and high-quality protein in the diet. The present work aims to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect of germinated Indian bean (Dolichos lablab L. var lignosus) by feeding albino rats with a hypercholesterolemic diet. Design/methodology/approach -Male albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into five groups (each group consisting of ten rats) according to randomized block design, housed in individual cages and fed with one of the five diets over an eight-week period. At the end of eight weeks, the body weights were recorded and the rats put down. Samples of blood and liver were collected and used for analysis of liver and plasma cholesterol. Findings -Supplementation of the diet with dried powder of soaked bean almost brought the plasma cholesterol to 72.5 AE 0.75 from 178 AE 1.85 compared with that of the control (61.5 AE 0.70), although the liver cholesterol was still three times higher compared with the control. The 24 h germinated Indian bean cotyledons could effectively counteract the effects of added cholesterol on liver and plasma by their high fibre content coupled with enormous increase in ascorbic acid levels. Originality/value -Results suggest germination to be a simple biochemical tool to effectively lower the cholesterol levels in liver and plasma by virtue of its higher contents of ascorbic acid and dietary fibre in ischemic heart disease patients.

No abstract