Compositional studies of lentil (lens culinaris medik.) cultivars commonly grown in Pakistan

Four improved lentil cultivars viz., Masoor 85, Masoor 93, NIAB Masoor 2002 and NIAB Masoor 2006 grown and consumed in Pakistan have been systematically analyzed to determine and compare their nutritional and compositional properties. Proximate analysis, anti-nutritional contents, amino acid and fatty acid profiles of the oil extracted along with mineral content from all four cultivars were investigated. Mineral composition showed that sufficient amounts of Ca, P, K, Cu, Zn and Mg were present to meet the macro and micro-nutrients demand in human diets. Despite variations, potassium and manganese were noted as being present in highest and lowest concentrations, respectively, in all cultivars. The distribution patterns of various amino acids in these cultivars suggested sulfur containing amino acids as limiting amino acids. Fatty acid profile indicated unsaturated fatty acids as major fatty acids in all cultivars. The data show that, in terms of both quality and quantity, all four lentil cultivars can serve as a significant source of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and trace minerals to meet the demand of population of Pakistan. (author)