An Analysis of the Nutritional Composition of De-Coated Seed of Black Seeded Cowpea

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), a widely consumed legume, is known for its proteinous and nutrient
content. However, the seed coat contains anti-nutritional factors that may hinder nutrient
bioavailability. The study analyzes the nutritional composition of de-coated black seeded cowpea
to assess its nutritional potential. Standard analytical methods were used to determine moisture,
crude protein, fat, ash, fibre and NFE content. Essential minerals and trace elements were
determined using Alpha-4 AAS, while Sodium and Potassium were determined using flame
photometer Model at their respective wavelength. Also amino acid composition was determined
using automatic amino acid analyzer. The results revealed that de-coating significantly influenced
the nutritional composition by reducing fibre content while retaining essential nutrients. The
protein content remained high, with a well-balanced amino acid composition with high levels of
lysine and leucine content. Mineral indicate the presence of essential elements critical for human
nutrition. Findings from the study suggest that de-coated black-seeded cowpea is a valuable
nutritional resources with potential applications in food fortification and dietary formulations.

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