AMINO ACID PROFILES OF RAW, PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WASTE OF CELOSIA ARGENTEA AND AMARANTHUS HYBRIDUS VEGETABLES CONSUMED IN NIGERIA

Two major samples that made up six sub-samples were analysed for their amino acids composition.The two major samples were Celosia argentea and Amaranthus hybridus.The sub-samples were C. argentea raw (CR), protein concentrate (CC), waste (CW) and for A. hybridus raw (AR), protein concentrate (AC), waste (AW).Determinations were on dry weight basis.The total amino acids (TAA) was a reflection of the protein values in the samples seen a follows (protein/TAA) (g/100g): CR (22.7/79.5)<CC (28.8/80.6)>CW (21.0/69.9)and AR (21.8/73.8)<AC (24.2/80.6)>AW (20.2/66.2).But digestibility had a different trend as follows (%): CR (86.8) > CC (84.2)>CW (82.9) and AR (88.1) > AC (85.6)>AW (83.4).On intrasample comparisons, the followings were observed: CR<CC (except in Cys, Pro, digestibility), CR > CW (in all determined parameters), CC> CW (in all parameters) and AR< AC (except in Glu, digestibility), AR >AW (in all parameters), AC > AW (in all parameters).In the inter-sample comparisons, observations were CR>AR (except in Ala, Phe, Glu, Ser, Tyr, digestibility), CC > AC (except in Phe, Ala, Val, Glu, Pro, Ser, Tyr, digestibility) and CW > AW (except in Met, Phe, Ala, Glu, Pro, Tyr, digestibility); results showed that Ala, Phe, Glu, Tyr and digestibility were constantly more concentrated in A. hybridus than C argentea.In the six samples, P-PER values were: P-PER1 [2.15 to 2.22 (C.argentea; C.a.), 1.52 to 1.87 (A.hybridus: A.h.]; P-PER2 [2.08 to 2.24 (C.a.), 1.57 to 2.00 (A.h.)];P-PER3 [1.27 to 1.34 (C.a.),-0.335 to -0.591 (A.h.)] showing C. argentea to be consistently better than A. hybridus in all the P-PER.EAAI.(soy stand.)values were 1.03 to 1.17 (C.argentea) and 0.801 to 0.986 (A.hybridus); soy is 1.26.EAAI2 (egg stand.)values were 93.0 to 93.5 (C.argentea) and 96.1 to 97.2 (A.hybridus), i.e. better in A hybridius; egg is 100.Pattern of EAAI2 was followed by BV: 89.6 to 90.2(C.argentea) and 93.0 to 94.2 (A.hybridus).Limiting amino acid score (LAAS) in egg/PDCAAS in CR (Ala, 0.27/0.24),CC (Met, 0.36/0.31),CW(Ala,0.24/0.20);AR(Cys, 0.29/0.26),AC(Cys, 0.37/0.32)and AW(Cys, 0.23/0.19).EAA scoring pattern: CR(Thr, 0.76/0.66),CC(Met+ Cys, 0.67/0.56),CW(Met + Cys, 0.55/0.45);AR (Met + Cys, 0.47/0.42,AC(Met + Cys, 0.55/0.47)and AW (Met + Cys, 0.38/032).In pre-school EAA requirement scores/PDAAS (LAAS), CR (Thr, 0.89/ 0.78), CC (Thr, 0.91/0.77),CW(Met + Cys, 0.76/0.63);AR (Met + Cys, 0.66/0.59),AC (Met + Cys, 0.76/0.65)and AW (Met + Cys, 0.54/0.45).More than required values of EAA requirements at ages 10 -12 years (mg/kg/day) were observed in the samples.Statistical analysis were carried out for CR/CC, CC/CW,CR/CW; AR/AC, AC/AW, AR/AW, CR/AR, CC/AC and CW/AW; they all showed significant differences at rxy = 0.01 at n-2 (df) since all rxy(C )> rxy(T).