Proximate and Anti-Nutritional Studies of Two Varieties of Germinated Acha Seed (Digitaria Exilis)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of germination on the proximate and anti-nutritional composition of the two varieties of acha (Digitaria exilis). Germination increased the moisture content (9.70±0.04 to 10.45±0.04 and 9.80±0.02 to 10.63±0.01) for the white and yellow varieties respectively. There was significant reduction (P<0.05) in the ash content (1.92±0.00 to 1.61±0.02 and 1.90±0.02 to 1.84±0.01), crude fibre (2.41±0.01 to 2.22±0.01 and 2.38±0.01 to 2.14±0.01), crude fat (2.60±0.01 to 1.88±0.02 and 2.75±0.02 to 2.19±0.00), during the period of germination for white and yellow varieties respectively. There was complete reduction in the tannin content of the two varieties, hydrogen cyanide of the yellow variety after 48 hours of germination. Furthermore, germination reduced the tannin, phytate, hydrogen cyanide and saponin content of the white and yellow varieties of acha.