Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes
The search for new sources of plant protein for food and animal feed is driven by an increasing demand in developing countries and the interest in healthy alternatives to animal protein. Seeds from 23 different wild legumes belonging to tribes <i>Gallegeae</i>, <i>Trifolieae</i&...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/400 |
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| author | Youssef Elamine Manuel Alaiz Julio Girón-Calle Raquel P. F. Guiné Javier Vioque |
| author_facet | Youssef Elamine Manuel Alaiz Julio Girón-Calle Raquel P. F. Guiné Javier Vioque |
| author_sort | Youssef Elamine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The search for new sources of plant protein for food and animal feed is driven by an increasing demand in developing countries and the interest in healthy alternatives to animal protein. Seeds from 23 different wild legumes belonging to tribes <i>Gallegeae</i>, <i>Trifolieae</i>, and <i>Loteae</i> were collected in southern Spain and their total amino acid composition was analyzed, by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), in order to explore their nutritional value. Protein content in the seeds ranged from 15.5% in <i>Tripodium tetraphyllum</i> to 37.9% and 41.3% in <i>Medicago minima</i> and <i>Medicago polymorpha</i>, respectively. Species belonging to tribe <i>Trifolieae</i>, such as <i>Melilotus elegans</i> and <i>Trifolium</i> spp., showed the most equilibrated amino acid composition and the best theoretical nutritional values, although all species were deficient in sulfur amino acids. The amino acid composition of the seeds from some of these legumes was characterized by high levels of the anticancer non-proteic amino acid canavanine This amino acid was found free in the seeds from some of the species belonging to each of the three tribes included in the present work. <i> Astragalus pelecinus</i> in tribe <i>Gallegea</i>, <i>Trifolium angustifolium</i> in tribe <i>Trifolieae</i>, and <i>Anthyllis vulneraria</i> in tribe <i>Loteae</i> have 3.2%, 3.7%, and 7.2% canavanine, respectively. Seeds from <i>Anthyllis vulneraria</i>, <i>Hymenocarpus</i> <i>lotoides</i>, and <i>Hymenocarpos cornicina</i> have the highest contents in canavanine overall. In conclusion, the seeds from some of these legumes could be used for human consumption and for feeding animals because they contain protein of good nutritional quality. These plants could be useful in domestication and breeding programs for production of new varieties with improved nutritional and functional properties. In addition, some of these species may be of interest as a source of the bioactive compound canavanine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:50:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3efc7da765e944ef8ada06e678ccb6fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:50:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3efc7da765e944ef8ada06e678ccb6fe2023-11-23T18:21:21ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-02-0112240010.3390/agronomy12020400Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean LegumesYoussef Elamine0Manuel Alaiz1Julio Girón-Calle2Raquel P. F. Guiné3Javier Vioque4Food Phytochemistry Department, Instituto de la Grasa (C.S.I.C.), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, SpainFood Phytochemistry Department, Instituto de la Grasa (C.S.I.C.), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, SpainFood Phytochemistry Department, Instituto de la Grasa (C.S.I.C.), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, SpainCERNAS Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, PortugalFood Phytochemistry Department, Instituto de la Grasa (C.S.I.C.), Campus Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km 1, 41013 Sevilla, SpainThe search for new sources of plant protein for food and animal feed is driven by an increasing demand in developing countries and the interest in healthy alternatives to animal protein. Seeds from 23 different wild legumes belonging to tribes <i>Gallegeae</i>, <i>Trifolieae</i>, and <i>Loteae</i> were collected in southern Spain and their total amino acid composition was analyzed, by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), in order to explore their nutritional value. Protein content in the seeds ranged from 15.5% in <i>Tripodium tetraphyllum</i> to 37.9% and 41.3% in <i>Medicago minima</i> and <i>Medicago polymorpha</i>, respectively. Species belonging to tribe <i>Trifolieae</i>, such as <i>Melilotus elegans</i> and <i>Trifolium</i> spp., showed the most equilibrated amino acid composition and the best theoretical nutritional values, although all species were deficient in sulfur amino acids. The amino acid composition of the seeds from some of these legumes was characterized by high levels of the anticancer non-proteic amino acid canavanine This amino acid was found free in the seeds from some of the species belonging to each of the three tribes included in the present work. <i> Astragalus pelecinus</i> in tribe <i>Gallegea</i>, <i>Trifolium angustifolium</i> in tribe <i>Trifolieae</i>, and <i>Anthyllis vulneraria</i> in tribe <i>Loteae</i> have 3.2%, 3.7%, and 7.2% canavanine, respectively. Seeds from <i>Anthyllis vulneraria</i>, <i>Hymenocarpus</i> <i>lotoides</i>, and <i>Hymenocarpos cornicina</i> have the highest contents in canavanine overall. In conclusion, the seeds from some of these legumes could be used for human consumption and for feeding animals because they contain protein of good nutritional quality. These plants could be useful in domestication and breeding programs for production of new varieties with improved nutritional and functional properties. In addition, some of these species may be of interest as a source of the bioactive compound canavanine.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/400seed protein amino acidscanavanineprotein efficiency ratiobiological valueamino acid scoreessential amino acids |
| spellingShingle | Youssef Elamine Manuel Alaiz Julio Girón-Calle Raquel P. F. Guiné Javier Vioque Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes Agronomy seed protein amino acids canavanine protein efficiency ratio biological value amino acid score essential amino acids |
| title | Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes |
| title_full | Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes |
| title_fullStr | Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes |
| title_short | Nutritional Characteristics of the Seed Protein in 23 Mediterranean Legumes |
| title_sort | nutritional characteristics of the seed protein in 23 mediterranean legumes |
| topic | seed protein amino acids canavanine protein efficiency ratio biological value amino acid score essential amino acids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/2/400 |
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