Functional Uses of Peanut (<em>Arachis hypogaea</em> L.) Seed Storage Proteins

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important grain legume crop of tropics and subtropics. It is increasingly being accepted as a functional food and protein extender in developing countries. The seed contains 36% to 54% oil, 16% to 36% protein, and 10% to 20% carbohydrates with high amounts of P, Mg, Ca, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, vitamin E, resveratrol and amino acids. Seed contains 32 different proteins comprised of albumins and globulins. The two-globulin fractions, arachin and non-arachin, comprise approximately 87% of the peanut seed proteins. Peanut worldwide is mainly used for oil production, consumption as raw, roasted, baked products, peanut butter, peanut flour, extender in meat product formulations, confectionary and soups. Peanut proteins have many properties such as good solubility, foaming, water/oil binding, emulsification that make them useful in various food products. Very limited studies have been carried out in peanut functional properties, which has been reviewed in the present article. Adequate modifications can be done in protein functionality that are influenced by pH, temperature, pressure etc. However, some individuals develop severe IgE-mediated allergies to peanut seed proteins. Thus, methods to improve nutrition and reduce allergenicity have also been discussed. Within the last decade, manipulations have been done to alter peanut chemistry and improve nutritional quality of peanuts and peanut products. Hence, improved comprehensive understanding of functional properties and nutritional chemistry of peanut proteins can generate better source of food grain to meet nutritional requirement of growing population. In the present review, composition of peanut seed proteins, functional properties, nutritional components and nutraceutical value have been discussed with respect to beneficial aspects to health, reducing hunger and usage in food end products

Intraspecific variation in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA in <i style="">Withania somnifera</i> (Linn.) Dunal

325-328Intraspecific variation in ITS regions of the rDNA among the five wild and five cultivated genotypes of Withania somnifera, were evaluated at nucleotide sequence level using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region was first amplified by PCR and then cleaved with four different restriction enzymes (EcoRV, Hinf I, Afa I &amp; Hae III). Restriction endonuclease digests, types, and sequence length composition of ITS 1 and ITS 2 of nuclear ribosomal DNA provided discrete differences between the cultivated and wild genotypes. A 710 bp single amplified product was obtained in all the five wild genotypes whereas, two ITS bands named as ITS type A and B of 709 bp and 552 bp, respectively were obtained in the five cultivated genotypes. A single deletion at 672 position was noted in ITS type A of cultivated genotypes. There was no restriction site in 552 bp ITS band for all the four restriction enzymes used. The variation of ITS at amplification as well as digestion level is in conformity with morphological and phytochemical differences in W. somnifera genotypes