2. Materials and methods
2.1. Processing of cowpea
The cowpeas (V. unguiculata) were purchased from
the local market. Wholesome seeds of similar sizes were
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selected, soaked in clean tap water for 12 h at room
temperature (27C) and then divided into ®ve equal
portions (by weight). Four portions were spread each on
a separate clean jute bag and left for 24, 48, 72, or 96 h,
to germinate. One portion, the control, was not germi-
nated. During germination, the seeds were rinsed at 24 h
intervals in running tap water for 10 min, to reduce
fungal contamination. The proportion of seeds which
germinated or spoiled in the process of germination was
noted. All germinated seeds, as well as water-soaked
control seeds, were dehulled, dried and hammer-milled
in three passes. The resultant ¯our was sifted through a
40-mesh sieve, packed in polythene bags and stored at
room temperature until used. Traditionally wet-milled
paste from non-germinated cowpea was also processed
and included as an additional control sample.