Effect of Blanching Treatments against Protein Content and Amino Acid Drumstick Leaves (Moringa oleifera)

Abstract

Three blanching methods, namely boiling, steaming, and boiling+sodium bicarbonate, were used to evaluate amino acids contens and score of Moringa leaves under different blanching. Results showed that blanching had a great effect on amino acids and scores of Moringa leaves and their digestibility increased. Different methods of blanching had variable effects on Moringa leaves’ amino acids and digestibility<ins datetime="2012-12-12T14:13" cite="mailto:printer"> </ins>significantly (p<=0.05). Steam blanching Moringa leaves had the highest amino acid content by 31.49%. Results also revealed that under different blanching Moringa leaves at levels of leucine of steam and boil+sodium bicarbonate samples, lysine content of boil and steam blanching are higher than those of<ins datetime="2012-12-12T14:17" cite="mailto:printer"> </ins>FAO/WHO requirement pattern. The in vitro protein digestibility under study ranged from 49.6 to 52.3%.