Some chemical and physical properties of bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranea Thouars) seed and products

Abstract

Some chemical and physical properties of bambara groundnut seed were determined. The proximate composition of the bambara groundnut seed was found to be 9.7% moisture, 16.6% protein, 5.9% fat, 2.9% ash, 4.9% crude fibre and 64.9% carbohydrate. Maximum water absorption was attained after soaking for 11, 9, 6, and 4h at 25, 40, 50, and 60°C, respectively. Maximum dehulling efficiency was attained when the seeds absorbed 54.7% water and drying for 9 h at 60°C. Study of the microstructure of the raw flour and seed showed that they contained differently shaped and sized starch granules and protein materials within the cell wall in the cotyledon. Milling disorganised the arrangement of these components in the cotyledons. In the steamed moin-moin (‘okpa’), all components in the seed had lost their identity and integrity.