Title: Evaluation of indigenous Omani legumes for their nutritional quality, phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties

Authors: Amanat Ali; Nadiya A. Al-Saady; Mostafa I. Waly; Neeru Bhatt; Ali M. Al-Subhi; Akhtar Jamal Khan

Addresses: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman ' Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman ' Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman ' Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman ' Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman ' Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman

Abstract: Four indigenous Omani legumes (faba bean, cowpeas, chickpeas and lentils), collected from three different regions of Oman, were evaluated for their proximate composition, phytochemical contents and antioxidant properties. The proximate composition varied significantly. Regional variability however, did not affect the proximate composition, except crude protein content of cowpea and chickpea. The average values for moisture, protein, fat, fibre and ash ranged from 8.5% to 9.6%, 22.5% to 23.9%, 1.1% to 1.8%, 4.5% to 7.6% and 3.1 to 3.5% respectively. Both variety and regional variability affected the phytochemical contents. The average total phenol contents, tannins, and flavonoids ranged from 15.1 to 131.8 mg GAE/100 g, 13.2 to 100.8 mg CAE/100 g and 1.7 to 19.9 mg CAE/100g respectively, whereas the oxalates and saponins contents ranged from 56.1 to 197.8 and 2,699.1 to 3,598.1 mg/100 g respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the total phenol contents and the reducing power of legumes.

Keywords: legumes; indigenous varieties; proximate composition; phytochemicals; Oman; nutritional quality; antioxidants; faba beans; cowpeas; chickpeas; lentils; regional variations; protein content; moisture; protein; fat; fibre; ash.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2013.060267

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2013 Vol.3 No.4, pp.333 - 346

Received: 14 Jun 2013
Accepted: 19 Oct 2013

Published online: 05 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article