Edwin A. Kohlhepp

The nutritional and chemical evaluation of Chia seeds

The chia plants are found in a group of annuals in the genera Salvia and Hyptis of the family Labiatae. Species of chia have been under cultivation for centuries in Mexico. Seeds from three Salvia and two Hyptis sources were collected and chemically analyzed for protein, oil, fiber, ash, moisture, and amino acids. The protein ranged in concentration from 19.0 to 26.5%, oil from 15.9 to 34.1%, fiber (ADF) from 22.1 to 33.4%, and total dietary fiber (TDF) from 47.1 to 59.8%. Threonine was the first limiting amino acid in chia seed, while lysine and leucine were the other limiting amino acids.

In vitro mineral binding capacity of three fiber sources for Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn by two different methods

Acid-washing centrifugation (AWC) and cold-hot-water-enzyme incubation (WEI) methods were used to study the binding capacity (BC) of wheat bran, rice bran, and oat fiber for calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. Treated fibers were analyzed for protein, phytic acid (PA), total dietary fiber (TDF), and minerals. Protein content was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in WEI fibers than AWC fibers. WEI fibers had low protein concentration and no PA but higher TDF values (P < 0.05). Levels of Mg were the highest among the minerals studied. AWC treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) more efficient in stripping minerals than the WEI treatment. AWC fibers bound more minerals. Results indicate that the BC values of the fibers for minerals by the two methods were not comparable.

Composition of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) of the Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico

Fourteen samples of white (WT), brown (BT), speckled (ST), and black (BKT) tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius) grown in the semiarid and arid areas of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, were evaluated for their weight and sizes and analyzed for proximate composition, dietary fiber, trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), and phytic acid (PA). Seed weight (0.105 g to 0.145 g) and size (7.1 × 5.0 mm to 9.3 × 6.4 mm) were not significantly different among WT, BT, ST and BKT. Protein (N × 6.25) and fat contents ranged from 17.3% to 23.1% and from 0.73% to 1.18%, respectively. No significant difference (P < 0.05) in protein and fat levels were observed among tepary types. Soluble, insoluble, and total dietary fiber were not significantly different. Total dietary fiber ranged from 17.97% to 20.96%. TIA (14.82 TIU to 24.58 TIU/mg sample) was not significantly different among raw tepary types. Autoclaving for 10 min and 20 min reduced significantly TIA. PA content (1.83 mg to 5.34 mg PA/g sample) was not signi...

Antinutritional factors in protein fractions of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)

Abstract Proteins from tepary bean were extracted according to their solubility in sodium phosphate buffer (SPB), sodium chloride (NaCl), ethanol, 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and evaluated for trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), hemagglutinating activity (HA), and phytic acid (PA). TIA varied from 1·9 TIU/mg sample for 2-ME to 161·01 TIU/mg sample for ethanol fraction. HA was high in SPB (29 300 HU/g sample) and tepary flour (TF) (20 000 HU/g), but lower in NaCl (5000 HU/g), 2-ME (1800 HU/g), and ethanol (100 HU/g) fractions. No HA was detected in SDS fraction. PA was high in TF (4·61 mg/g sample) and SPB (6·83 mg/g) and lower in SDS (0·06 mg/g) and 2-ME (0·41 mg/g).

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.

Composition of sonoran desert foods used by Tohono O'Odham and Pima Indians

Fifty‐eight raw food samples were analyzed for proximate, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and dietary (soluble & insoluble) fiber and mineral composition. Food samples were from both home gardens and samples collected from desert plants. The two major sources were bean and corn samples. Bean samples averaged 22.72% (19.66% to 25.6%) protein and 7.16% ADF. Corn samples ranged from 9.2% to 12.2% protein and cactus pads ranged from 0.5% to 0.9% protein and from 0.4% to 2.4% ADF. Cactus fruit ranged from 0.8% to 3.4% protein and 3.6% to 10.7% ADF. The wild greens ranged from 5.1% to 7.6% protein and from 4.4% to 10.7% ADF. Total dietary fiber (TDF) ranged from 1.37% to 69.86% and soluble fiber from 0.05% to 7.64%.