In vitro Digestibility of Starch from Native and Germinated Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.)

The in vitro digestibility of native and germinated pigeon pea starches both in raw and cooked forms were investigated. The rate of digestibility (glucoamylase) was different for the two raw starches. There was a preferential utilization of low molecular weight ‘amyloses’ in the germinated samples, during in vitro enzymatic digestion of the raw granule. On acid hydrolyses, germinated samples produced lower molecular weight fragments than did raw starch, though the rate of reducing sugar released was not different. It may therefore be concluded that the size of the „amylopectin”︁ molecule is smaller in germinated starch. The easy availability of low molecular weight „amyloses”︁ may also influence the greater susceptibility of germinated starches to amylolysis even after cooking.