Abstract:
Pulses play a vital role in the Sri Lankan diet as a protein source. Pulses contain
bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids. Cooking
causes considerable changes in the nutritional and structural properties of the phenolic
compounds and antioxidants of pulses. The objective of this work was to compare the
total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of selected raw pulses such as yellow dhal
(Cajanus Cajan), red dhal (Lens culinaris), red cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), ash cowpea
(Vigna unguiculata), green gram (Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo), soybeans
(Glycine max), chickpea (Cicer arietinum) with traditional cooked and pressure-cooked
ones. Total phenolic content of raw soybeans, red dhal, ash cowpea, red cowpea, green
gram, black gram and chickpea were 248.5 ± 1.85, 25.79 ± 1.18, 47.45 ± 1.02, 59.54 ±
1.86, 33.08 ± 1.66, 43.08 ± 1.32 and 150.79 ± 1.62 µgmL-1 respectively. Ash cowpea
(204.95 ± 1.41 µgmL-1) and red cowpea (205.79 ± 1.17 µgmL-1) showed higher amount
of total phenolic content when they were cooked traditionally. Traditional and pressure
cooking methods increased the total plenolic content in all the pulses tested except
soybeans and chickpea compare to raw pulses significantly. Traditional and pressurecooking
methods increased the tannin content in ash cowpea, red cowpea, green gram
and black gram whereas decreased in yellow dal red dhal, soybeans and chickpea when
compared to raw samples. High amount of tannin content was observed in soy beans
(2.50 ± 0.001 µgmL-1). Total phenolic and tannin contents were higher in ash cowpea,
green gram and black gram when they were cooked by pressure cooking than traditional
cooking. High amount of flavonoid was observed in raw sample of red cowpea (82.13 ±
1.38 µgmL-1) and lower amount was observed in soy beans (14.75 ± 1.12 µgmL-1). The
significant depletion of flavonoid content was observed in all cooked samples compare to
raw samples. There were no significant differences among the raw and cooked samples
of pulses in terms of total sugar and different cooking methods did not affect the total
sugar. The study recommended that pressure cooking was the suitable method for
retaining maximum total phenolic content and tannin content in the pulses followed
by traditional cooking.
