Comparative Assessment of Phytochemical Contents of Diet Combinations Made From Lima Beans and Cowpea
Authors:-Olife, Ifeyinwa Chidiogo, Ayatse, James O.I, Ega, RAI, Anajekwu, Benedette Azuka
Abstract-Legumes are important sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are plant derived chemicals known to possess many properties, including anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and physiological activities. Though phytochemicals are vital to both plants and animals, they are not established as essential nutrients and they can also have adverse effects by functioning as anti-nutrients. Processing affects the nutritional values of plant-based food and such food products may lose part of their functionality as these chemicals are sensitive to the impact of processing methods. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical contents of legume-based lima beans/cowpea diet combinations so as to recommend the best combination to maximize their pharmacological potentials and reduce the anti-nutritional effects. Quantitative analysis of phytochemical constituents of the formulated diet combinations were carried out using standard procedures for oxalate, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, cardiac glycosides, tannin, phytate, cyanogenic glycoside while spectrophotometer method was used for the determination of steroids and phenols. Among whole legume-based diet combinations, 75:25 ratio lima beans/cowpea diet recorded the lowest alkaloid, flavonoid, cyanogenic glycosides and saponin levels of 5.20 %, 4.0 %, 4.8 % and 3.0 %, respectively. However, among the dehulled legume-based diet, the 50:50 ratio lima beans/cowpea combination had the lowest saponin, steroid, alkaloid, cyanogenic glycoside and flavonoid levels of 1.90 %, 5.38 mg/g, 3.0 %, 5.55 % and 4 %, respectively. Over all, the 50:50 ratio dehulled lima beans/cowpea diet combination, compared to other diet combinations, had the lowest contents of saponin, steroid, alkaloid and flavonoid out of the nine phytochemicals quantified. Pharmacological properties of phytochemicals are beneficial to human health. However, these phytochemicals could also be detrimental to human health when consumed in excess. Therefore, legume-based lima beans/cowpea diet combination ratios should be done with respect to the pharmacological properties of interest.
DOI: 10.61137/ijsret.vol.10.issue5.251

Published by: Kajal Tripathi