Amino acid composition of the seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam), Detarium microcarpum (Guill & Sperr) and Bauhinia monandra (Linn.)

Abstract

The seeds of Moringa oleifera (Lam), Detarium microcarpum (Guill & Sperr) and Bauhinia monandra (Linn) were analysed for amino acids contents. The concentrations (g/100g protein) of the essential amino acids lysine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and threomine were M. oleifera 3.21, 2.09, 3.05, 1.09, 4.01, 5.74, 4.24 and 3.03, D. microcarpum 2.14, 1.07, 2.13, 0.74, 2.35, 2.35, 2.5 and 2017, B. monandra 2.86, 1.11, 3.54, 1.54, 2.31, 2.13, 3.77 and 2.70 respectively. other non–essential amino acids were in various quantities in the seeds. The statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was no significant difference in the amount of amino acids in the seeds of these plants. Therefore these plants can serve as good sources of amino acids for both man and livestock.