ABSTRACT
The plant genus Sesbania comprises up to 60 species distributed mainly in the tropics and subtropics. They have valuable traits to be used in agriculture (human food, livestock fodder) and pharmaceuticals. This chapter addresses the nutraceutical potential of uncooked as well as cooked, ripened and dry seeds of Sesbania bispinosa, a plant adapted to the xeric, saline habitats of the coastal sand dunes. Proximal composition, mineral content, protein bioavailability, and bioactive components were assessed, using standard protocols. Seeds of S. bispinosa contain adequate proteins, fiber, calorific value, minerals, and essential amino acids. The seeds also possess an adequate quantity of vitamin C along with appreciable antioxidant potential and reducing power. Cooking significantly improved the protein bioavailability of seeds, and the concentration of many antinutritional components decreased significantly. The adequate proximal qualities, minerals, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, protein bioavailability, combined with decreased antinutritional components and increased bioactivity, qualify the seeds of S. bispinosa as potential nutraceutical resources.
