World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PROTEIN QUALITY OF PROCESSED AFRICAN WALNUT SEED KERNEL USED AS TRADITIONAL SNACK IN PARTS OF NIGERIA

Anyalogbu Ernest A. A.* and Onyeike Eugene N.

ABSTRACT

The protein bioassay of processed African walnut seed kernel used as traditional snack in parts of Nigeria was conducted. Diets formulated with raw and processed seed kernels as the sole protein (12%) sources, together with reference diet were presented to rats ad labitum for a 28-day feeding period. The growth performance characteristics: Body weight change, Feed intake, Nitrogen intake, Protein intake, Feed utilization, Feed conversion ratio, Protein efficiency ratio (PER), were significantly (p?0.05) higher in rats fed reference diet than those fed sample-based diets. On the other hand, the protein quality indices: Faecal nitrogen, Carcass weight, Faecal dry weight, Net protein utilization, Apparent digestibility, True digestibility, Biological value (BV) of rats fed sample-based diets while not affected considerably by the processing method were statistically (p?0.05) similar to those fed reference diet (Nutrend®). The PER and BV of rats adapted on processed samples were above the values 2.0 and 70 respectively required for good quality protein. It could therefore be concluded that the protein of the processed African walnut (Plukenetia conophora) kernel used as traditional snack in parts of Nigeria is adequately utilized, capable of supporting life and of acceptable quality.

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