%0 Journal Article
%T Food Value and Phytochemical Composition of Luffa cylindrica Seed Flour
%J American Journal of Biochemistry
%@ 2163-3029
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.5923/j.ajb.20120206.02
%X Amino acid, fatty acid and phytochemical compositions of Luffa cylindrica seed flour were investigated. The total amino acid concentration was 72.71g/100g protein and the total essential amino acid concentration was 38.76g/100g protein. Arginine (9.75g/100g protein) was the most concentrated essential amino acid while the Lysine/Arginine ratio was 0.52. The calculated isoelctric point (pI), predicted protein efficiency ratio (P-PER) and limiting amino acid were 5.91, 1.89 and threonine respectively. Linoleic acid (31.47%) was the most abundant fatty acid in the seed flour. Unsaturated fatty acids (66.9%) were of higher concentration than saturated fatty acids (33.07%) while the total concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was 52.02%. Flavonoids (4.53%) were the most concentrated phytochemical in the Luffa cylindrica seed flour while saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides were also present. This study shows that Luffa cylindrica seed contains a high proportion of essential amino acids and has a low atherogenic potential. Also, it is a potential source of healthy fat that may be useful as source of food nutrient and phytomedicine.
%K Amino Acid
%K Fatty Acid
%K Phytochemical Composition
%K Luffa Cylindrica
%K Lysine/Arginine Ratio
%K Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
%K P-PER
%U http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ajb.20120206.02.html