Chemical composition and nutritional quality of Cleome dolichostyla seeds

Seeds of Cleome dolichostyla were analysed for proximate composition, mineral element contents and amino acid composition, in-vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) and calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER). The seeds (dry basis) were rich in oil (32.1%), protein (24.6%) and fiber (17.8%) content. The contents of various mineral elements mg/100g) were: Ca = 1970, P = 493, Mg = 127, Na = 35, K = 465, Fe = 71.97, Zn = 2.25, Cu = 0.44 and Mn = 1.45. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, arginine and histidine were the major amino acids in C. dolichostyla seed protein accounting for half of the total amino acids. Lysine was the most limiting essential amino acid (FAO/WHO, 1973 reference pattern) with a chemical score of 45 for the protein. The IVPD of cleome seed protein was 72.2% and C-PER was 1.08 relative to the IVPD and C-PER values of 90.0% and 2.50 for the Animal Nutrition Research Council casein.