Department of Chemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, PMB 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, PMB 1022, Keffi, Nigeria
Olaofe, O., Department of Chemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, PMB 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Okiribiti, B.Y., Department of Chemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, PMB 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Aremu, M.O., Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, PMB 1022, Keffi, Nigeria
Proximate, mineral and amino acid composition of smooth luffa (Luffa cylindrica) seeds kernel were investigated using standard analytical techniques. The results gave proximate composition in percentage as: total ash (4.4), organic matter (95.6), moisture (5.8), crude fat (32.7), crude protein (43.1), crude fibre (2.5) and carbohydrate (13.6). Mineral composition (mg/100g sample) of K, Na, Fe, Zn, P, Ca and Mg were 930.0, 26.0, 5.3, 1.0, 700.0, 40.0 and 18.0, respectively which showed that K was the most highly concentrated mineral. The total amino acid was 67.58g/100g crude protein while arginine (Arg) was the most highly concentrated essential amino acid (5.1g/100g protein). The Luffa cylindrica kernel sample had a balance content of essential amino acid in Phe + Tyr alone with respect to the FAO/WHO provisional pattern while supplementation may be required in Ile, Leu, Lys, Met + Cys, Thr and Val. The calculated isoelectric point (pI), predicted protein efficiency ratio (P-PER) and first limiting amino acid were 3.66, 1.49 and Lys, respectively.