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Cowpea (Vigna unguiculate (L.)) is a leguminous crop that is very rich in protein and consumed in different parts of the word. The seeds can be cooked and consumed whole or it can be processed into powder or other forms and used in preparing different delicacies. The nutritional composition of two cowpea variety (White: 1T89KD-288) and Brown: IT90K-82)) sold in major markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was determined. The cowpea of the aforementioned variety with different sizes-big white, small white, big brown and small brown seeds were bought from Mile III, Mile I, New market (Borikiri) and Rumuokoro markets. Cowpea seeds were taken to the laboratory and were sorted according to sizes and colour. The proximate composition of the cowpea seeds was carried out in accordance with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists procedure. The mineral content, vitamins, anti-nutritional and phytochemical properties inherent in the seeds were evaluated using standard methods. The result showed that the % moisture, Ash, Lipid, Fibre, Carbohydrate and Protein content of the seeds ranged from 7.75±0.31-8.6±0.76, 3.45±0.42 3.79±0.22, 2.08±0.18-2.49±0.36, 1.85±85.64-44.54±0.09, 56.26±1.85-57.76±1.01, and 26.45±0.8-27.85±0.79, respectively. The small white seeds were found to be richer in fibre while the small brown seeds had higher proteins. The mineral contents showed that the % calcium present in the seeds ranged from 89.73±1.03% to 91.38±0.99%. The small white cowpea seeds had the highest calcium while the big brown cowpea seeds had the lowest calcium. Despite the variation, no significant difference was observed. The phosphorus contents also ranged from 407.75±24.23% to 431.53±36.4. The big white recorded more phosphorus content. More so, the potassium, iron, sodium and magnesium contents of the big white cowpea seeds, small white cowpea seeds, small brown cowpea seeds and the big brown cowpea seeds ranged from 248.25±5.12% to 251.25±4.11%, 3.93±0.15 to 4.03±0.07, 83.6±1.73 to 85.58±2.35, and 171.75±1.83 to 159±2.22, respectively. There were no significant differences in the phosphorus content, potassium content, iron content and sodium content of the cowpea seeds. The big brown cowpea seeds had the highest magnesium content followed by the small brown cowpea seeds while the small white cowpea seeds had the least magnesium content. The micronutrient present in the seeds showed that the vitamin A content of big white, small white, small brown and big brown cowpea are 48.28±1.03, 46.8±0.45, 46.28±0.57 and 46.45±1.83, respectively. The small white cowpea seeds had the highest vitamin A content while the small brown cowpea seeds had the least vitamin A content. It could be deduced that the nutrient composition of the seeds varied slightly except for fibre content. Thus, the choice of the cowpea seeds to consume between this variety is dependent on the actual nutrient being sourced for. They are all rich in protein and phytochemicals.

Keywords

Cowpea; Proximate composition; Vitamins; Anti-nutritional; Phytochemicals

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