Biochemical and nutritional characteristics of non‐conventional protein sources

Some nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of Cucumis sativus L and Lagenaria vulgaris (Molina) Standl seeds ere studied. The mature seed kernels contained 312–318 g kg −1 crude protein, 9–10 g kg −1 crude fibre, 444–463 g kg −1 crude fat, 43–45 g kg −1 ash and 114–142 g kg −1 carbohydrates. The biological values of cucumber and bottle gourd proteins ere 74.35 and 74.20 respectively. The essential amino acid profile compared ell ith the FAO/HO scoring pattern except for a deficiency of lysine and isoleucine. Lysine as the first limiting amino acid in both the proteins. The leucine:isoleucine and leucine:lysine ratios did not sho imbalance. Trypsin inhibitor, phytate, lectin and tannin levels ere determined in the defatted decorticated cucurbit seed meals. Heat treatment reduced the trypsin inhibitor and lectin activities in all samples to negligible levels. Levels of phytate and tannins ere found to be similar in all samples.