Estimation of Macronutrients and Resistant Starch Content of Commonly Consumed Plant Foods

Abstract

Background: The present study aims to develop a database on the macronutrients and resistant starch content of commonly consumed plant foods such as cereals, pulses, roots and tubers and vegetables. Methods: Analysis of macronutrients such as moisture, protein, fat, ash and dietary fiber was carried out by using standard AOAC methods, available carbohydrates by modified Anthrone method and resistant starch by Megazyme assay kit. Result: The results of the moisture content among the cereals tested ranged from 0.23% to 7.3%, pulses from 5.05% to 7%, roots and tubers from 74.7% to 80.35% and plantain 84.67%, protein in cereals ranged from 6.99% to 11%, pulses from 16.32% to 22.92%, roots and tubers from 7.74% to 11.87% and plantain contains 6.71%, fat content of cereals ranged from 2.17% to 6.06%, pulses from 2.3% to 6.53%, roots and tubers from 0.3% to 0.49% and plantain contains 0.14%, ash content of cereals ranged from 0.44% to 2.16%, pulses from 2.58% to 4.06%, roots and tubers from 1.18% to 1.38% and plantain contains 0.73% and the carbohydrate of cereals ranged from 59.21% to 80.35%, pulses from 19.06% to 47.76%, roots and tubers from 11.86% to 16.72% and plantain contains 11.49%. The resistant starch content of cereals ranged from 0.16% to 5.71%, pulses from 1.86% to 29.4%, roots and tubers from 28.41% to 45.7% and plantain contains 39.88% respectively. The non-resistant starch content of cereals ranged from 49.63% to 73.18%, pulses from 5.05% to 35.98%, roots and tubers from 2.43% to 19.31% and the plantain contains 17.03%. The total starch is the sum of the resistant starch and non-resistant starch. The total starch content of cereals ranged from 50.1% to 74.39%, pulses from 23.97% to 37.22%, roots and tubers from 33.62% to 48.58% and the plantain contain 56.91% respectively.