Effect of Plant Ash on Nutrient Quality and Antioxidant Activity of African Yam Bean Seed Porridge in Relation to Cooking Time

The present study aimed to investigate the nutrient quality, antioxidant activity and sensory acceptability of hard-to-cook African yam bean (AYB) seeds cooked for 5 h (control) and for 2 h with plant ash. The plant ash were unripe plantain peel ash (UPA), corn cob ash (CCA) and UPA and CCA mixture. Standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) were used for the proximate and mineral analysis, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays were used to investigate the antioxidant activity. A completely randomized design with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. The results showed that cooking of AYB seeds for 2 h with 8 g/100mL plant ash solution improved the nutrient contents, antioxidant activity and sensory scores of the porridge. Higher values of proteins, ash and energy were obtained in 8 g/100mL UPA/CCA and in 8 g/100mL CCA additives. However, moisture, fat and fibre contents were not affected by plant ash additives and were higher in 5 h cooked porridge. Cooking with 8 g/100mL plant ash solution for 2 h significantly increased mineral elements in the porridge. Phenolic compounds (total polyphenols and flavonoids), and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) showed higher values with plant ash additives. This study reveals that addition of plant ash did not only reduce the cooking time of AYB seed by 60%, but also improved the nutrient quality, antioxidant activity and sensory acceptability.

Pulpwood Quality of the Second Generation Acacia auriculiformis

The physical,chemical and fibre characteristics of the 6,8 and 10 years old akashmoni(Acacia auriculiformis)wood from the second generation seed and their suitability for pulping were assessed and compared with the wood of 10 years old from the first generation seed.The A.auriculiformis of 8 years old had the highestα-cellulose and lower lignin than those of 6 and 10 years old,which are similar to the first generation wood.This study also evaluated the effect of cooking time,temperature and active alkali on kraft pulping.The most important influence factors for pulp yield and kappa number were active alkali charge and time.The highest screened rejects were observed for young tree.Delignification degree of the 1st generation was faster than that of the 2nd generation A.auriculiformis.