Protein source plants

In general, nonconventional protein foods must be competitive with conventional plant and animal protein sources on the bases of cost delivered to the consumer, nutritional value to humans or animals, functional value in foods, sensory quality, and social and cultural acceptability. Also, requirements of regulatory agencies in different countries for freedom from toxins or toxic residues in single-cell protein products, toxic glycosides in leaf protein products, pathogenic microorganisms, heavy metals and toxins in fish protein concentrates, or inhibitory or toxic peptide components in synthetic peptides must be met before new nonconventional food or feed protein products can be marketed. 

Future Uses. The most recent uses for methanol can be found in the agricultural sector. Test studies are being carried out where methanol is sprayed directly onto crops to improve plant growth. Methanol can be used as a carbon source for the production of single-cell protein (SCP) for use as an animal feed supplement. The process has been commercially demonstrated by ICl at their BiUingham, U.K., faciUty. However, the production of SCP is not commercially practical at this time, in comparison to more conventional protein sources. 

For us to remain perfectly healthy, the protein in our diet must supply suffident quantities of amino acids. We prefer to eat our protein in particular forms, that is in foods having particular textures, tastes and smells (these are called organoleptic properties). Conventional sources of protein are plants, mainly as cereals and pulses, and animals, mainly as meat, eggs and milk. The proportions of such proteins eaten in various parts of the world differ widely (Figure 4.1). 

Assimilatory denitrifiers reduce nitrate to the amino acid level where it is incorporated into protein. Many plants and bacteria can do this and, therefore, use nitrate as a nitrogen source. 

Six protein sources—two plant-derived and four animal-derived—were used in this 2x3 factorial type study (Table I). Diets were formu-... 

The effects of various potentially deleterious components of plant protein sources, as indicated by the results of studies conducted with humans, are briefly discussed. Examples of contradictory results are given. 

From a global view, plant protein sources (cereals, legumes, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits) have always been the primary source of dietary energy and protein for the majority of the world s population. In addition, in recent years, the use of vegetable protein products as sources of dietary protein, as supplements, and as extenders of more traditional animal protein sources has been increasing markedly in the developed countries. These factors are responsible for our interest in determining the effects of plant protein sources on the utilization of minerals in the human diet. 

Concerns have been focused on the various constituents present in plant protein sources or products which may have, for the most part, deleterious effects numerous recent reviews detailing various aspects have been published (e.g.,. In the... 

The effects of plant protein sources on iron and zinc utilization have been of particular concern and the subject of the most studies with humans. Accordingly, the following discussion is focused on studies concerned with these two minerals. 

Nutrition research on winged bean has mainly focused upon the tough, mature seed, which is rich in protein and oil. The seeds are occasionally consumed in Indonesia and Papua NewGuinea (59, 60). A survey of 240 winged bean accessions from 16 countries showed that the protein and oil contents range between 20.7-45.9% and 7.2-21.5% respectively (13). Studies on the evaluation of seed flour as an alternative feed source for livestock has only recently begun. The two most commonly used plant protein sources in broiler (chicken) diets to date have been soybean and peanut cake (62). 

These recommendations are based on the complete digestibility of milk or egg protein. Protein from plant sources may be slightly less digestible, and the UK Department of Health recommends that vegetarians and vegans multiply the above figures by a factor of 1.1. 

Natural feedstocks must serve many human purposes. Carbohydrates are valuable raw materials due to their actual or potential value. For example, protein plants are already utilizing rapidly reproducing reengineered bacteria that metabolize cellulose wastes converting it to more protein-rich bacteria that are harvested and then used as a protein source feed-meal for animals. Further, natural materials can be used in applications now largely reserved only for synthetic polymers. Sufficient natural materials are available for the supply of both food and polymer needs. 

Barley -for brewing [BEER] (Vol 4) -copper as nutrient for [COPPER COMPOUNDS] (Vol 7) -growth regulators for [GROWTHREGULATIONS - PLANT] (Vol 12) -m malting [MALTS AND MALTING] (Vol 15) -protein source [FOODS, NONCONVENTIONAL] (Vol 11) -starch from [CITEMURGY] (Vol 5)... 

Plants, of course, also require protein to build and maintain their life processes and, consequently, are protein sources for the animal diet, In the case of herbivores, plants are essentially the exclusive source of proteins, energy, and all other dietary elements. 

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