Nutritional composition and antinutritional factors of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) undergoing different cooking methods and germination.

The effects of cooking treatments (boiling, autoclaving and microwave cooking) and germination on the nutritional composition and antinutritional factors of chickpeas were studied. Cooking treatments and/or germination caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in fat, total ash, carbohydrate fractions, antinutritional factors, minerals and B-vitamins.

Optimum production, stability, partial purification and inhibitory spectrum of antimicrobial compounds produced by Pediococcus pentosaceus DI.

The optimum conditions for production of antimicrobial compounds by Pediococcus pentosaceus DI were studied. The antimicrobial compounds in cell free fermented medium were extracted (methanol-acetone), then tested for inhibitory activity against fourteen bacterial strains and its stability to heating, various pH and proteolytic enzymes. In addition, methanol-acetone extract was partial purified through Sephadex G-100 column and thin-layer chromatography.

Characteristics and composition of watermelon, pumpkin, and paprika seed oils and flours.

The nutritional quality and functional properties of paprika seed flour and seed kernel flours of pumpkin and watermelon were studied, as were the characteristics and structure of their seed oils. Paprika seed and seed kernels of pumpkin and watermelon were rich in oil and protein. All flour samples contained considerable amounts of P, K, Mg, Mn, and Ca.

Legumes-whey weaning food: storage studies.

Legume-whey weaning foods formulas were stored for 6 months in aluminum foil coated by polyester at room temperature (22-25 degrees C) and refrigerator (4 degrees C). Peroxide values and free fatty acids values of weaning food formulas reached to its maximum after 3 and 2 months, respectively, and after that continuously decreased during storage. Thio-barbituric acid values of all samples increased gradually throughout the storage period at different condition of storage (room temperature and refrigerator).

Effect of soaking process on nutritional quality and protein solubility of some legume seeds.

Legume seeds (soy bean, lupin and bean seeds) were soaked in 0.5% sodium bicarbonate in attempt to evaluate their nutritional quality and protein solubility index. Soaking process led to an increase in the hydration coefficient, seed weight, total protein, ash, fat, fiber, while non protein nitrogen, total carbohydrates, starch, stachyose, raffinose, reducing sugars, and minerals (except Na) were decreased.