Antinutrients content of some locally available legumes and cereals in Nigeria.

Plant protein is the cheapest source of protein available to mankind but unfortunately the protein is accompanied by antinutrients. The quantity of oxalate and tannin in acha, bambara groundnut, guinea corn, millet, sesame seed, soybean and tiger nut were chemically analyzed. The white variety of sesame seed and soybean have the highest oxalate and tannin contents of 8.25 mg/g and 0.15 mg/g respectively. Among the cereals the black and brown varieties of millet have the highest oxalate and tannin contents of 4.65 mg/g and 0.07 mg/g respectively. The presence of these antinutrients makes plant (especially legumes) protein partially available and of poor quality.