Evaluation of Nutrient and Anti-Nutrient Characteristics of Different Germplasm of Pongamia Pinnata

Two different germplasm of Pongamia pinnata collected from Omalur, Salem, Tamilnadu and Bharathiar University campus, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu were analyzed for their proximate composition, minerals, seed protein fractionation, amino acid profiles, fatty acid composition of lipids and anti-nutritional substances. Crude protein value was 22.36 g 100 g-1 DM (Omalur germplasm) and 23.69 g 100 g-1 DM (Bharathiar university campus germplasm). The other major nutrient contents (g 100 g-1) were crude lipid 31.06 and 32.16; ash 3.67 and 4.16, total dietary fiber 8.15 and 6.80 and total crude carbohydrate content (NFE) 34.76 and 33.19 respectively for Omalur germplasm and Bharathiar university campus germplasm. The seeds were a rich source of minerals such as K, Ca,Mg and P. The amino acids valine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine, lysine were fairly high when compared with the FAO/WHO amino acid recommended pattern.

The lipids contained high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids in which linoleic acid was the major fatty acid. The in vitro prote digestibility was found to be 72.34% and 72.16% respectively for Omalur and Bharathiar University Campus germplasm. Anti-nutritional substances such as total free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA and haemagglutinating activity, were also analyzed.