Free amino acids in legume seeds include both proteic and nonproteic
amino acids (Bell, 2003). Chickpea seeds are particularly
rich in free arginine (unpublished results). This amino acid is considered
semi-essential or conditionally essential because, although
animals can synthesize it, exclusion of arginine from the diet
results in a sub-optimal weight gain (Tapiero, Mathé, Couvreur, &
Tew, 2002). In animals, arginine is an intermediate in the urea