Study of Chemical, Functional Properties, and Protein Digestibility of Cowpea Sprout Flour (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical, functional, and protein digestibility of cowpea
sprout flour. This study was conducted using germination and without germination of cowpea, and each
treatment was repeated three times. Cowpea flour and cowpea sprout flour were tested for chemical
properties (moisture content, ash content, protein content, fat content, carbohydrate content, crude fiber
content), functional properties (water absorption, oil absorption, swelling volume, solubility,
wettability) and protein digestibility. The germination of cowpea had a very significant effect on
moisture content, a significant effect on water absorption, swelling volume, solubility, wettability,
protein content, and protein digestibility, and had no significant effect on oil absorption, ash content,
fat content, carbohydrate content, and crude fiber content. The results showed that chemical properties
of cowpea flour and cowpea sprout flour that is water content 4.96% and 2.6%, ash content 4.13% and
4.15%, protein content 26.42% and 28.18%, fat content 1.44% and 1.24%, carbohydrate 63.04% and
63.81%, crude fiber content 6.46% and 7.1%, functional properties of cowpea flour and cowpea sprout
floue that is water absorption 1.06 ml H2O/g solid and 1.39 ml H2O/g solid, oil absorption 1.44 ml oil/g
solid and 1.05 ml oil/g solid, swelling volume 7.08 ml/g and 6.37 ml/g, solubility 17.15% and 20.25%,
wettability 420.60 seconds and 315.8 seconds, protein digestibility of cowpea flour and cowpea sprout
flour were 45.28% and 48.45%.