Chemical Composition and Nutritional Evaluation of the Lupine Seeds (Lupinus albus L.) from Low-Alkaloid Varieties

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the chemical compositional and nutritional profiles of a two number of white lupine cultivars (Lupinus albus, cultivars Amiga and Energy) suited to the pedoclimatic conditions in Romania, collected in the year 2015. No significant differences were observed among lupine cultivars in their dry matter (DM), crude ash or alkaloid contents. The highest protein content (36.4�1.1% of DM) and crude fat (10.1�1.2% of DM) was found in seeds from lupines belonging to cv. Amiga, while the highest crude fibre content (15.2�1.7% of DM) was found in cv. Energy. Both varieties examined were characterised by a shortage of methionine and lysine, but lysine deficiency was higher in cv. Energy. Amiga cultivar was found to be a nutritionally more valuable crop than cv. Energy by the standards of nutrition for mature human and animals (chicken broilers and growing pigs). Amiga lupine was characterised by a higher essential amino acid index (EAAI) as well as chemical score (CS) of lysine, and the high nutritional index (NI) and biological value (BV) of protein as compared to cv. Energy. The white lupine seeds examined can serve as a source of good quality food protein for adult humans, meet the requirement for exogenous amino acids (EAA) and Lys in chicken broilers and to a lesser degree in the case of growing pigs, according to the standards of nutrition used. Fatty acid (FA) composition showed that oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) was the major fatty acid, followed by linoleic (C18:2 n-6) and linolenic (C18:3 n-3) acids. Apart from the highest level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) the seed oil of Amiga cultivar showed and the largest content of linolenic acid (n-3) and the most favourable report n-3/n-6 FA.