Nutritional Composition of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (Velvet bean) Seeds Grown in Nanyumbu District, Tanzania

Abstract

In tropical countries, Mucuna seeds have been utilized to promote better health and ensure a stable food supply. The use of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis seeds in Tanzania has prompted an evaluation of the nutritional composition of two common cultivars grown in the Nanyumbu district. Mucuna seed samples (black-reddish brown and black-greyish) were collected and analyzed for their nutritional content using standard extraction and spectrophotometric techniques. Data analysis was conducted using GraphPad InStat 3.0 software, with a t-test employed to compare means at a 95% confidence level. The results indicated that the differences in nutritional parameters between the black-reddish brown and black-greyish Mucuna seeds were not significant (P > 0.05), except for crude lipid and carbohydrate content. The protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, ash, vitamin C, beta carotene, lycopene, and energy content ranged from 48.13% to 46.50%, 2.13% to 1.39%, 26.75% to 23.12%, 15.99% to 14.51%, 3.23% to 3.21%, 0.98 to 0.84 mg/g, 0.011 to 0.004 mg/100 mg, 0.006 to 0.0058 mg/100 mg, and 1303.7 to 1243.1 kJ/100 g, respectively. Both cultivars of Mucuna seeds exhibit dietary qualities that can be explored as alternative food sources for the malnourished population in the country.