Effect of various types of fermentation on in vitro protein and starch digestibility of differently processed pearl millet.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum) grains were fermented with Lactobacilli and yeast alone, in combination and with natural flora at 30 degrees C for 48 h after giving various processing treatments viz, fine and coarse grinding, soaking, debranning, dry heat treatment, germination and autoclaving after adding of water. Fermentation was carried out with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Rhodotorula isolated from naturally fermented pearl millet and Lactobacillus acidophilus, Candida utilis and natural fermentation using freshly ground pearl millet flour as inoculum. All the processing treatments except coarse grinding improved the protein and starch digestibility. Autoclaving enhanced the digestibilities of processed samples which was further improved by different types of fermentation, the maximum being in case of germinated and naturally fermented pearl millet. A combination of Lactobacilli and yeast was more effective in increasing the protein as well as starch digestibility as compared to pure culture fermentation.