Nutrient and anti-nutrient compositions of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) seeds grown in humid Southeast Nigeria: A comparison

Abstract

Abstract. Enyiukwu DN, Chukwu LA, Bassey IN. 2020. Nutrient and anti-nutrient compositions of southern pea (Vigna unguiculata) and mung bean (Vigna radiata) seeds grown in humid Southeast Nigeria: A comparison. Trop Drylands 3: 41-45. Pulses are important components of African cuisines. Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) are commonly consumed in most parts of Nigeria, but mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) though new in the agro-landscape, is gradually gaining popularity. Its popularity is based on the speculation that it is of higher nutritional content than cowpeas. This work evaluated the nutritional compositions of seeds of both pulse crops grown in humid southeast Nigeria using classical and spectrometric analysis. Results obtained from the study showed that the mean proximate compositions of mung bean (17.70%) did not statistically (P?0.05) differ from that recorded for cowpea seeds (17.30%). However, irrespective of the high magnesium content (62.39 mg g-1) of mung bean, the mean mineral nutrients in cowpea (270.69 mg g-1) is grossly higher than (145.58 mg g-1) recorded in mung bean due largely to high presence of potassium (1.29 g 100 g-1) in cowpeas than in the former. Data from this study also showed that higher contents of flavonoids (11.31 mg g-1) make the mean content of phytochemicals in mung bean (4.21 mg g-1) to be slightly higher than but statistically (P?0.05) at par with that obtained in cowpea seeds (3.67 mg g-1). Generally, the nutrient contents in mung beans are not substantially higher than that of cowpea and vice versa. It is therefore recommended based on data obtained from this study that both be used to supplement each other in African diets due to their differential contents of flavonoids, magnesium, and potassium for better well-being and health.