Chemical Composition of Some Varieties of Fenugreek Seeds (Trigonella foenum gracecum)

Abstract

Proximate chemical composition and minerals contents of fenugreek whole seed samples from China, Sudan and Algeria were determined. The results showed that there was significant difference among the three varieties in their protein, fat and total minerals composition. The endosperm was separated from the embryo of the seed and the composition of each part was studied, most of the proteins are accumulated in the embryo fraction (39.87 %), while the gum is concentrated in the endosperm fraction (53.53 %). The major part of the saponin and lipids are found in the embryo fraction and easier to be separated from the embryo than from the whole seed, due to the presence of the gum which has disturbing effect on protein solubilisation. Amino acid profile and fatty acids composition were determined, the main amino acids are gultamic acid, aspartic acid, and arginin. The amino acid profile revealed that fenugreek proteins is similar to soybean proteins in their amino acid composition. The fatty acid composition of the total lipids indicated that lenoleic was the predominant fatty acid (61.29 %), followed by oleic acid (17.67 %).