Effect of Varying Pretreatment Techniques on Nutrient Composition of Indigofera Arrecta Seeds

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different pretreatment methods on the nutrient composition of pretreated Indigofera arrecta seeds. Five different pretreatment methods which include steam (StPS), acid (AcPS), alkaline (AlPS), combined alkaline and steam (CoPS), biological pretreatment (BiPS) and the ground sample (GdPS) as control were carried out on the seeds of I. arrecta. Results show significant (p<0.05) changes in the proximate composition, antinutrient, mineral, lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose contents of the pretreated sample when compared with the control (ground sample). Significant reduction in (p<0.05) in lignin, cellulose content was observed in all the pretreatments. The BiPS resulted in highest percentage reduction in lignin and cellulose content by 71% and 59% respectively when compared with other samples. The BiPS with values of 0.103 ± 0.03, 0.017 ± 0.01, 0.017 ± 0.01 and 2.157 ± 0.41 resulted in highest significant (p<0.05) reduction in tannin, lectin, trypsin and saponin content of the seeds respectively and also significantly (p<0.05) increased the calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus with values 21.813 ± 0.01, 20.03 ± 0.02, 10.557 ± 0.00, 50.641 ± 0.01, 10,200 ± 0.01 and 4,333 ± 0.02 respectively. This report indicates that pretreatment is an efficient method in improving the nutritional and mineral content and also in the reduction of antinutrients present in the seeds of Indigofera arrecta.

Author(s): Ahmadu MO, Anigo KM, Ameh AD, Samuel NU and Thomas A

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