Compositional Characteristics of 10 Wild Plant Legumes from Mediterranean French Pastures

Moisture, lipid, fatty acid, protein, amino acid, ash, starch, free sugars, and cellulose concentrations in the aerial part of 10 wild plant legumes, growing in Mediterranean French pastures (Anthyllis vulneraria, Coronilla emerus, Coronilla minima, Coronilla varia, Cytisus sessilifolius, Dorycnium suffruticosum, Lotus delortii, Onobrychis saxatilis, Ononis minutissima, and Psoralea bituminosa), were determined. The dried aerial part of these plants contained 8.4-15.7% protein and 1.2-1.8% lipids. Amino acid analysis showed that proteins contained mainly glutamic acid + glutamine and aspartic acid + asparagine. The main fatty acids were palmitic and linolenic acids.