E. Nwokolo

Bio: E. Nwokolo is an academic researcher from University of British Columbia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Soybean meal & Canola. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 34 publications receiving 933 citations. Previous affiliations of E. Nwokolo include Rivers State University of Science and Technology & University of Alberta.

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.)

Abstract: The Bambara groundnut, which belongs to the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae), is an annual short-creeping herbaceous plant that is either bunched or semibunched. The botany of the crop has been described by Duke (1981) and by Hepper (1963). Pods are buried beneath the ground, each pod bearing one or two seeds. The seeds are large (1.5 cm diameter) and smooth, rounded or unilaterally flattened and hard. Seeds are variously coloured, some being white, cream or brown, others being red or mottled; a few are black. The Bambara groundnut is grown extensively in the tropics, especially throughout Africa. It grows satisfactorily on many types of soil and in most types of tropical and subtropical climates, doing as well in hot, humid, sub-Saharan regions as in cool, dry, mountainous areas. In Africa south of the Sahara, it constitutes an important food crop for villagers farming soils that are poor in nutrients (Doku and Karikari, 1971). Bambara groundnuts are also cultivated in India and Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Philippines and the South Pacific, Australia and Papua New Guinea as well as in tropical Central and South America (Duke, 1981; NAS, 1979).

Food and Feed from Legumes and Oilseeds

Abstract: The need for increased consumption of pulses. Molecular approaches to improving the nutritional and functional properties of oilseeds, grains and legumes. African yam bean. Horse bean and moth bean. Lima bean. Winged bean. Chick pea, Escumite bean and other local Mexican legumes. Wild Mexican legumes with a potential for nutritional use. Melon seeds, oil and meal. Fluted pumpkin seed, oil and meal. Gourd seeds, oil and meal. Oil bean. Salseed, oil and mead. Safflower seed, oil and meal. Sunflower seed, oil and meal. Soybean, oil and meal. Peanut, oil and meal. Rice bean. Velvet bean. Mung, hyacinth and faba beans. Jack bean. Common bean. Cowpea. Lentil and chickpea. Pigeon pea. Bengal, black, green and red gram. African breadfruit and Polynesian breadfruit. Rubber seed, oil and meal. Babassu seed, oil and meal. Babassu seed, oil and meal. Castor seed, oil and meal. Lupine seed, oil and meal. Coconut kernel, oil and meal. Palm nuts, oil and meal. Almond, walnut, macademia and other minor nuts. Rapeseed (canola), oil and meal. Flax seed, oil and meal.

Nutritional evaluation of pigeon pea meal

Abstract: Mineral, amino acid and fatty acid composition of pigeon pea meal were determined by analysis, while with chick essays, availability (true digestibility) of minerals and amino acids in the meal were estimated. Gross energy, metabolizable energy and true protein digestibility experiments were also conducted. Pigeon pea meal had a very high content of potassium, high content of potassium, high content of phosphorus, moderate content of calcium and magnesium and low content of iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Average availability of minerals was 58.09%. Amino acid content was low, especially cystine and methionine. Amino acid availability was 82.32%, lower than amino acid availability of soybean meal (>90%). Pigeon pea lipids were predominantly saturated fatty acids (69.04%) with low content of unsaturated fatty acids (30.69%) and a total absence of linolenic acid. Metabolizable energy content (N-corrected) was 11.08 MJ/kg in raw pigeon pea and 12.03 MJ/kg in toasted pigeon pea meal.

Nutritional assessment of defatted oil meals of melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) and fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis Hook) by chick assay

Abstract: Analytical data on fatty acid, amino acid and mineral content of defatted melon seed and fluted pumpkin seed are presented and discussed. Also discussed are experimental data on availability of amino acids and minerals in these meals. Defatted melon seed and fluted pumpkin seed have protein contents of 66.20% and 66.54%, respectively, with an excellent pattern of amino acids, containing higher levels of most essential amino acids (except lysine) than soya bean meal. Amino acid availability is high (melon seed 95.30%, pumpkin seed 93.12%) and similar to the level in soya bean meal (94.31%). Mineral availability is significantly lower in melon seed (53.63%) and soya bean meal (54.94%) than in pumpkin seed (58.84%). The potential for increased dietary utilisation of melon and fluted pumpkin meals and flours to meet the dietary needs of monogastric animals as well as human subjects is discussed.

Compositional and digestibility changes in sprouted barley and canola seeds

Abstract: Barley and canola seeds were sprouted over a 5 day period, in laboratory conditions under room temperature (22 degrees C) and room lighting. Following initial hydration, seeds were kept moist by wetting the germination trays at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. A parallel germination experiment using 200 g quantities of seeds in petri dishes was conducted. Starting from the second day of germination, and every day, dishes of germinating seeds were removed, oven-dried, weighed and milled for proximate and chemical analysis. Seeds from the main germination experiment were fed in a digestibility trial to Wistar rats. Results indicated that sprouting was associated with depletion of many nutrients in both barley and canola, the major losses being in respect of dry matter, gross energy and triglycerides. In barley (but not in canola) sprouting was associated with significant increases in crude fiber and diglyceride content. In canola, there were significant losses in lipid content and increases in phytosterol and phospholipid content. Digestibility data showed an enhancement in digestibility of nutrients in barley but not in canola, implying that sprouting improved nutritional quality of barley but not canola.

Phenolics in food and nutraceuticals

Abstract: Phenolics in Food and Nutraceuticals is the first single-source compendium of essential information concerning food phenolics. This unique book reports the classification and nomenclature of phenolics, their occurrence in food and nutraceuticals, chemistry and applications, and nutritional and health effects. In addition, it describes antioxidant activity of phenolics in food and nutraceuticals as well as methods for analysis and quantification. Each chapter concludes with an extensive bibliography for further reading. Food scientists, nutritionists, chemists, biochemists, and health professionals will find this book valuable.

Phytosterol, Squalene, Tocopherol Content and Fatty Acid Profile of Selected Seeds, Grains, and Legumes

Abstract: The unsaponifiable lipid fraction of plant-based foods is a potential source of bioactive components such as phytosterols, squalene, and tocopherols. The objective of the present study was to determine the levels of phytosterols, and squalene, as well as tocopherols (α and β + γ) in selected grains, seeds, and legumes. The method comprised acid hydrolysis and lipid extraction followed by alkaline saponification, prior to analysis by HPLC. In addition, the fatty acid profile of the foods was determined via total lipid extraction, fatty acid derivitisation and GC analysis. In general, β-sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 24.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seed to 191.4 mg/100 g in peas. Squalene identified in all foods examined in this study, was particularly abundant in pumpkin seed (89.0 mg/100 g). The sum of α- and β+ γ-tocopherols ranged from 0.1 mg/100 g in rye to 15.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seeds. Total oil content ranged from 0.9% (w/w) in butter beans to 42.3% (w/w) in pumpkin seed and the type of fat, in all foods examined, was predominantly unsaturated. In conclusion, seeds, grains, and legumes are a rich natural source of phytosterols. Additionally, they contain noticeable amounts of squalene and tocopherols, and in general, their fatty acid profile is favorable.

Insect antimicrobial peptides and their applications.

Abstract: Insects are one of the major sources of antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs). Since observation of antimicrobial activity in the hemolymph of pupae from the giant silk moths Samia Cynthia and Hyalophora cecropia in 1974 and purification of first insect AMP (cecropin) from H. cecropia pupae in 1980, over 150 insect AMPs have been purified or identified. Most insect AMPs are small and cationic, and they show activities against bacteria and/or fungi, as well as some parasites and viruses. Insect AMPs can be classified into four families based on their structures or unique sequences: the α-helical peptides (cecropin and moricin), cysteine-rich peptides (insect defensin and drosomycin), proline-rich peptides (apidaecin, drosocin, and lebocin), and glycine-rich peptides/proteins (attacin and gloverin). Among insect AMPs, defensins, cecropins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common, while gloverins and moricins have been identified only in Lepidoptera. Most active AMPs are small peptides of 20–50 residues, which are generated from larger inactive precursor proteins or pro-proteins, but gloverins (~14 kDa) and attacins (~20 kDa) are large antimicrobial proteins. In this mini-review, we will discuss current knowledge and recent progress in several classes of insect AMPs, including insect defensins, cecropins, attacins, lebocins and other proline-rich peptides, gloverins, and moricins, with a focus on structural-functional relationships and their potential applications.