Selected Properties of Araucaria Angustifolia and Araucaria Araucana Seed Protein
Selected Properties of Araucaria Angustifolia and Araucaria Araucana Seed Protein
Conforti, P.A.; Lupano, C.E.
International Journal of Food Properties 14(1): 84-91
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1094-2912
DOI: 10.1080/10942910903131431
Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana are coniferous trees with large and nutritious seeds. The structure and nutritional properties of the proteins of these seeds were studied. About 70% of the proteins of the gametophyte were soluble in distilled water, although their solubility decreased drastically in raw seed flour. The protein components of both araucaria seeds were very similar; the main protein species have molecular weights of 14, 24, and 30 kDa. These proteins have a high nutritional quality, being triptophan the first limiting amino acid.