In vitroprotein digestibility of legumes cooked with spices

Abstract

The present study was planned to investigate the effect of spices on in vitro protein digestibility in decorticated forms of bengal gram (Cicer arietinum), black gram (Phaseolus mungo), green gram (Phaseolus radiatus) and red gram (Cajanus indicus). The spices used were chilli (Capsicum annum), pepper (Pepper nigrum L.), coriander (Coriander sativum) and a mixture of these. Legumes were pressure cooked with 5.0% of freshly powdered spices and in vitro protein digestibility determined using pepsin and pancreatin enzymes by standard techniques. Samples without spices served as controls. The results reveal that protein content of legumes ranged from 20.5 to 23.0 g/100 g. The percent protein hydrolysed for legumes without spices were 63.4 for bengal gram, 65.8 for black gram, 60.0 for green gram and 55.4 for red gram. Casein sample could be hydrolysed to the extent of 78.8%. Chilli powder decreased digestibility significantly by 50, 78, 73, 60 and 69% in casein, bengal gram, black gram, green gram and red gram, respectively. Pepper exhibited a variable effect of altering the digestibility to 93% in casein and red gram, 106% in black gram and green gram and 98% in bengal gram, which were not significant. Coriander also decreased digestibility by 48, 76, 87, 77 and 73% and mixture of spices by 74, 91, 96, 96 and 82% in casein, bengal gram, black gram, green gram and red gram, respectively. It can be concluded that spices do influence in vitro protein digestibility in legumes to varying extent.