Antinutrients in the cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf powder at three ages of the plant

Abstract

In Brazil, the cassava leaf meal (CLM) has been used to strive against undernourishment because it is a high source of vitamins and minerals. However, the wide variation in the chemical composition of the different cultivars, as well as their antinutritional substances may be a restriction to their uses. The levels of some antinutrients in CLM from five cultivars at three ages of the plant (TAP) were investigated, in order to select the cultivars and plant ages that would be more appropriate for human consumption. The lowest contents of antinutrients were observed in the 12-month old plants, except for nitrate and hemagglutinin from which the lowest contents were found for the 17 month old ones. The cultivar IAC 289-70 had the lowest antinutrient levels, except for saponin and oxalate. Thus, the cultivar IAC 289-70 at 12 months is the most appropriate for human consumption. Keywords: cassava leaves; cyanide; polyphenol; saponin; hemagglutinin; cultivars. ResumoNo Brasil, a farinha de folhas de mandioca (FFM) vem sendo usada no combate à desnutrição por ser fonte de vitaminas e minerais. Todavia, a grande variação na composição química dos diferentes cultivares e a presença de substâncias antinutricionais tem restringido o seu uso. Investigaram-se os níveis de alguns antinutrientes da FFM de cinco cultivares em três idades da planta (TIP), a fim de selecionar cultivares e idades mais adequadas para o consumo humano. Aos 12 meses foram observados os menores teores de antinutrientes, exceto para nitrato e hemaglutinina, os quais foram inferiores aos 17 meses. O cultivar IAC 289-70 destacou-se com os menores níveis dos antinutrientes, exceto para a saponina e oxalato. Portanto, o cultivar IAC 289-70, aos 12 meses, é o mais adequado para o consumo humano.

Studies of chemical and enzymatic characteristics of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) and its flours

“…Nappi et al (2006) analyzed the level of oxalic acid in multimixtures (wheat, maize flour, egg shell, and manioc leaf) and obtained the value of 510 mg. sample kg -1 , an amount smaller than that found in the present study in yacon peel flour (PeF). However, the manioc leaf had high concentration of oxalic acid, between 444 mg.kg -1 and 570 mg.kg -1 of whole matter (WOBETO et al, 2007), which is higher than the levels found for the yacon and derived products in the present study, except for yacon peel flour.…”

Introductory Chapter: Cassava as a Staple Food

“…Cassava also contains its own share of anti-nutrients, which have either positive or negative efects on the health, depending upon the amount of the component being ingested [21]. They basically interfere with the digestibility and uptake of some nutrients.…”

“…The consumption of lower cyanide amounts is not lethal but long-term intake could cause severe health problems such as tropical neuropathy [22]. The nitrate content in cassava leaves ranges from 43 to 310 mg/100 g DM (dry mater) [21]. Cassava-eating populations are naturally exposed to high amounts of cyanide, nitrates and nitrites-chemical compounds which are known to contribute to the risk of developing stomach cancer [22].…”

“…Cassava-eating populations are naturally exposed to high amounts of cyanide, nitrates and nitrites-chemical compounds which are known to contribute to the risk of developing stomach cancer [22]. Cassava-eating individuals tend to have a high amount of thiocyanate in the stomach due to cyanide detoxiication by the body, which may catalyse the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines [18,21,22].…”

Obtenção de concentrado protéico de folhas e parte aérea da mandioca (ManihotesculentaCrantz)

“…Porém, seu consumo direto fica limitado pela presença de agentes tóxicos e antinutricionais, como polifenóis (taninos), inibidores da tripsina, saponina, hemaglutinina e cianeto, necessitando passar por processos que reduzam sua concentração, além de reduzir a parte fibrosa, que não é digerida por humanos e animais monogástricos (MELO et al, 2007;MODESTI et al, 2007;WOBETO et al, 2007;TEO et al, 2010).…”