A Simple Preparation Method and the Composition of Alfalfa Leaf Protein Concentrates

Abstract

Crude leaf protein concentrates (LPC) were precipitated by adjusting the pH of the leaf extractant (pH 7.2) to 3.8 and this precipitate was washed with 90% acetone for several times. The color of dried LPC was light gray and the average yield was 1.75g per 100g fresh leaves, which correspounded to about 30% of the total proteins constained in the leaves. The composition of LPC was as follows: protein: 88.4%, lipid: 1.3%, ash: 2.6% and water: 7.0%. The result of amino acid analysis showed that the content of methionine was low but the amino acid pattern of the LPC gives fairly high level of the essential amino acids than that of the FAO reference protein. Mineral composition of the two LPC preparations revealed marked differences between samples as in the case of Wang and Kinsella.