Chemical composition, nutritive value, and toxicological evaluation of two species of sweet lupine (Lupinus albus and Lupinus luteus)

Abstract

Two species of sweet Lupine, Lupinus albus and Lupinus luteus, were analyzed. Both species were good sources of protein (34 and 39%). Lipid content measured as ether extract was 10.9%for L. albus and 4.7% for L. luteus. Both legumes had high crude fiber contents of more than 10%and low alkaloid contents (0.05 and 0.09%). The protein efficiency ratio was low in both species (0.48 and 0.99), but supplementation with DL-methionine increased base values significantly (p < 0.01), 2.84 and 2.30, respectively. In a toxicity study with rats that consumed a 20% lupine protein diet (supplemented with 0.3% DL-methionine), the growth rate of animals fed L. luteus and L. albus was similar to that produced by an unsupplemented 20% protein casein diet. The weight of liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, and adrenals and the histology of kidneys and lungs were normal. © 1980, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.