The research was carried out to collect some useful information on Lagenaria siceraria (Calabash gourd melon) seeds. The dried melon seeds were sorted, cleaned, soaked in water for easy removal and dehulled by abrasion to get the cotyledons, which were divided into three parts. The first part was used directly for analysis, the second part was boiled while the third part was fermented and analysed. Boiled melon had the highest fat and protein content while the raw melon had the highest carbohydrate content, however there was no significant increase in the ash content of the samples. There was a significant reduction in the antinutritional factors of boiled and fermented melon samples compared to the raw melon. Processing led to significant increase in the antioxidant activities and vitamin contents. The study observed that processing led to significant increase in the nutritional composition of the melon seeds and significant reduction in the antinutritional factors.

Fermentation takes place throughout the gastrointestinal tract of all animals, but the intensity and products of fermentation depend on number and types microbes, which are generally highest in the large bowel. Large intestinal epithelial cells do not produce digestive enzymes, but contain huge numbers of bacteria which have the enzymes to digest and utilize many substrates. The seeds of beans (Otili, Feregede, Pakala and Oloyin) analyzed in this present study contain indigestible fraction called dietary fiber which helps to maintain functioning of the digestive system. Fermentation of indigestible fraction (IF) of these beans was mimicked through in-vitro method which leads to biochemical changes in the samples. During this experiment, increase in acidity and turbidity was observed. The glucose concentration decreases with some exceptions, such as Pakala fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus which had the value of 6.260 mmol/L at 6 hr and increased to 6.616 mmol/L after 18 hours fermentation, Otili fermented by various microorganisms which had its turbidity increased by 50%. Lactobacillus acidophilus fermenting Pakala had the highest glucose concentration during the fermentation period. The increase in turbidity could be as a result of increase in microbial flora or production of metabolites, such as glucose. The approach followed here may be used as a predictive model to assess the metabolic implications of food substrates present in the traditional Nigerian orphan beans.

No abstract

In human nutrition, dietary fibers are un-degradable by mammalian enzymes, and are therefore potentially available for fermentation by microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract. It is thought that these fermentable carbohydrates affect fermentation by stimulating the growth or metabolism of specific bacterial species, which are potentially beneficial for health. Hence in this study three gut associated microbes-Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus were made to ferment the non-digestible fraction of Otili-Sphenostylis stenocarpa, a well-established underutilized wild bean with high economic importance. After 18 hours' fermentation period short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) were detected and evaluated by GC-MS analysis. Metabolic products were relatively dependent on the fermenter. This present study affirmed butyric acid as the main SCFAs after 18 hours' fermentation. The clinical significance of thirteen other MCFAs detected and quantified was also explored thus conferring a valuable prebiotic on Otili.

This research was carried out to determine the effect(s) of different processing methods on the nutritional composition of Plukenetia conophora (Africa walnut) seeds. The dried walnut seeds were sorted, cleaned, cracked and dehulled by abrasion to get the cotyledons. The raw sample and processed (boiled and fermented) seeds were analyzed for microbial load, physicochemical properties (pH, total titratable acidity and moisture contents), proximate composition, vitamin contents and antioxidant level. The boiled sample had the least microbial load (7.55 Cfu/ml) followed by the raw sample 8.50 (Cfu/ml). There was a progressive increase in the microbial load with an increase in fermentation time from 8.18 Cfu/ml to 8.40 Cfu/g in FW24 and FW120, respectively. The raw sample had least pH and moisture content of 5.78 and 9.50%, respectively. Boiling and increase in fermentation time led to significant increase in pH and moisture content of the samples.