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Divakara et al.

Res Rev Biomed Biotech 1(2); 2010

Research and Reviews in Biomedicine and Biotechnology


Volume [1], Issue [2], 2010,
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Short communication

Proximate composition of Paracalyx scariosus


Divakara R*, Manjunatha BK
Dept. of Biotechnology, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bommanahalli, Hosur Road,
Bangalore-68, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author email: divakarabdvt@gmail.com, Ph: +919972744922
Article received on 09.08.2010; Revised article accepted on 09.10.2010

ABSTRACT

There are large varieties of legumes and oil seeds which are part of traditional food systems
but whose nutritional and economic values have not been completely determined and are far
less exploited for both human and livestock utilization. The objective of this study was to
evaluate the proximate composition & nutritive value of Paracalyx scariosus seeds. P.
scariosus seeds have been used in the feed of ruminants. But information about their nutrient
composition is scarce. The study revealed that the seeds are rich source of carbohydrates
(39.75±0.87), crude fiber (12.152.4) & protein (30.00±0.00). The seeds are less in their
moisture (3.50.19) & crude fat (0.60.05) contents. Low moisture content is advantageous for
the seed’s shelf life & less fat of the seed showed that it is not an oil seed. The nutritive value
of the 100 gm of seeds was 284.4±3.93. From the results, the plant P. scariosus has a good
potential as food crops. Their cultivation and utilization should be encouraged. This would
positively contribute towards improving food security.

Key words: Paracalyx scariosus, Proximate analysis

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Divakara et al. Res Rev Biomed Biotech 1(2); 2010

INTRODUCTION

Relevant to human existence and living is good nutrition. This is often a major problem in most
developing countries of the world. Consequently, the cases of under-nutrition are increasing in
these countries. To be able to reduce the adverse effect of hunger and or starvation, it is
pertinent that some lesser-known plants are investigated for their nutritive value in human or
non-ruminant nutrition. Seeds have nutritive and calorific value which makes them necessary
in diets. They are good sources of proteins, carbohydrates, edible oils and fats. For normal
functioning, the human body requires sufficient amount of protein. Unfortunately, protein
foods are in short supply. Grain legumes are widely used as cheap protein sources for man and
livestock [1] (Oke et al., 1995) and they have been adjudged to be of good nutritional value [2-
5]
(Ologhobo, 1980; Del Rosario et al, 1981; Agbede, 2000; Agbede and Aletor, 2003).
Usually, legume seeds are rich in proteins and carbohydrates. One of such lesser-known plant
is Paracalyx scariosus, a grain legume seed plant.

P. scariosus is a small woody twinner, which belongs to the sub family Papillionaceae and
family Leguminosae. The plant is found in Belgaum, Bellary, Shimoga and Chikmagalore
Districts of Karnataka. It is also used in treatment of desentary, leucorrhoea, snake bite,
stomach ache, and venereal disease [6] (Keshava Murthy, 1994). It has slender pubescent
branches leaves are pinnately trifoliate. Leaflets are ovate, acute, and pubescent on both sides.
Laterals obliquely ovate, flowers arise in auxillary peduncled racemes or panicles. Corolla is
yellow included Pods. Pods are small obliquely oblong enclosed in calyx. The plant is called
as kadunaru kadale in Kannada and kalawel in Hindi. The traditional healers of Chattisghad
use this plant in treating different types of cancer with some herbal combination. The use of
this plant in treatment of cancer is not reported in any literature. Leaves and roots are known
to possess medicinal properties. The plant is not well known and is not cultivated. No
information could however be obtained concerning the nutritional properties of this seed. Thus,
the present study was undertaken to determine proximate composition of seeds of P. scariosus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection and identification of seed material


The plant material was collected in the month of January 2010 from outskirts of Shivamogga
city and identified by one of the author. The pods were shade dried and the seeds were
separated. The shade-dried seeds were subsequently milled into powder and stored in airtight
containers.

Determination of proximate composition


The proximate composition of powdered seeds was carried out using various techniques. The
moisture content was determined by drying powder in oven at 100 °C until constant weight,
ash by incineration in a muffle furnace at 550 °C for 48 h, proteins by nitrogen determination
using Kjeldahl method and conversion of nitrogen to proteins by the factor 6.25. Fat was by
Bligh dyer technique, crude fibers by successive digestion of the defatted sample with 0.26 N
sulphuric acid and 0.23 N potassium hydroxide solutions. Percentage carbohydrate was
calculated using the formula: 100 – (percentage of ash + percentage of moisture + percentage
of fat + percentage of protein). Nutritive value was determined by: Nutritive value = 4 x
percentage of protein + 9 x percentage of fat + 4 x percentage of carbohydrate [7]
[Indrayan et al., 2005].

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Divakara et al. Res Rev Biomed Biotech 1(2); 2010

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table-1: The proximate composition of P. scariosus seeds

Parameter Percentage
Moisture 3.50.19
Ash 4.50.012
Fat 0.60.05
Crude protein 300.00
Crude fibre 12.152.4
carbohydrates 39.750.87
Nutritive value 284.4±3.93
Mean ± Standard deviation (SD)

Proximate analysis of P. scariosus shows rich protein (300.00), Carbohydrate (39.750.00)


content. The ash, moisture, fat and fiber levels were 4.50.012, 3.50.19, 0.60.05 and
13.950.61 respectively (Table-1). The moisture content of the seed is lower than that of most
of the legume seeds [8, 9] (Giani, 1993; Temple et al., 1991). The low moisture content may be
advantageous in view of the seed’s shelf life. This study implies that the shelf life for this seed
will likely be longer than that of most legumes. The ash content (4.50.012) of this seed is
comparable with that of other legumes, which has been reported to range from 3.0% to 4.8%
[10]
(Elegbede, 1998). The ash content of a sample is the reflection of the minerals it contains.
Thus it contains average amount of minerals and it could be particularly useful for adult man
and woman. The fat content of the seed recorded is lowest (0.60.05) amongst the nutrient
composition. Legumes, other than oil legumes, have been reported to be low in fat content
ranging from 1-5%. How ever oil seeds have a range of fat content from about 18% to as high
as 43% [11] (Swaminathan and Jain, 1973). The present investigation implies that P. scariosus
is not an oil seed. The present work shows that P. scariosus seeds are quite rich in protein
(300.00). This value is higher than the values reported for the legumes 20-25 % [11]
(Swaminathan and Jain, 1973) and lower than the values for soybeans (43%). The high crude
protein content may encourage its use as high protein source in some food formulations. An
adult male of about 70 Kg body weight requires 35g of protein daily, therefore only 117g of
seed with 30% protein would be required to provide minimum daily protein need. How ever,
146g should be consumed to fulfill the requirements, if an allowance of 25% is made to take
care of digestibility and the limiting sulphur amino acids [12] (Fagbemi and Oshodi, 1991).
The dietary fibre level of the seed is apparently high when compared with that of the most
legumes [11] (Swaminathan and Jain, 1973). The crude fibre enhances the digestibility,
prevents constipation, appendicitis, cancer of large bowel, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dental
carries etc [12,13,14,15] (Cleaves, 1956; Burkitt, 1975; Trowell, 1975; Himsworth, 1935). But
the presence of high fibre level in the diet can cause intestinal irritation, lower digestibility and
overall decreased nutrient utilization [16] (Oyenuga and Fetuga, 1975; Johns, 1987). The
carbohydrate content of the seed is comparable with that of other legumes which has been
reported to range between 20.6 to 60.3% [11] (Swaminathan and Jain, 1973). The
carbohydrates are main source and store of energy. They are the starting substances for
biological synthesis of many compounds. As the seeds are rich in carbohydrates they can able
to fulfill the daily requirement of the human and livestock.

CONCLUSION

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Divakara et al. Res Rev Biomed Biotech 1(2); 2010

The present investigation shows that the seeds of P. scariosus are rich source of nutrients. It
could be used as nutritional supplement for humans or non-ruminant animals. Thus P. scariosus
seeds can be recommended for consumption by economically weaker sections of population
throughout the developing countries to alleviate the problem of nutrient supplement or
malnutrition.

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Divakara et al. Res Rev Biomed Biotech 1(2); 2010

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Sources of support: Nil


Conflicts of interest: Nil

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