Heating leaves in a closed atmosphere resulted in some loss
of mimosine(e.g. 50% reduction after 48 hour at 85%) Air drying
at elevated temparature gave sone reduction in mimosine
and conversion to DHP. Thus after 3 h at 60% an initial mimosine
content of 8.7% was reduced to 5.0 with 7.0 DHP formed.
this Institute showed that mimosine breakdown could be more rapid.
In an unpiblished review of leucaena chemistry, Mrgarrity has moted similar activity in leucaena
leaves. It is likely that partial conversion of mimosine to DHP on heating or drying
result from the interplay of two factors-breakdown of cell membranes and denaturation of
the enzyme system.If so, it should be possible to find conditions that favour the first
process. These may suggest suitable post-harvest treatments for obtaining
low-mimosine preparations from leucaena.