Drying and protein content in Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves

Resumen

Objective: To identify the appropriate climatic conditions for drying, as well as to validate the optimal procedure for solar dehydration and protein content in Moringa leaves from cultivars produced in the state of Veracruz.

Design/methodology/approach: The study period of this research was from October 2022 to September 2023. The plant material came from cultivars located in the Capital region and the Sotavento region, from the municipalities of Emiliano Zapata and Veracruz. The Dumas combustion method was applied. Moisture loss (ML) was determined using the gravimetric method, which involved measuring the change in weight of the sample before and after drying to calculate the moisture content. In the bromatological analysis (BA), the Acid Hydrolysis method was used, and it was quantified using the liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique to determine the nutritional composition of the foods.

Results: In the months of March, April and May, the relative humidity registered a low level, which is beneficial for the efficient operation of the dehydrator and accelerates the dehydration process. The results of the bromatological analysis reveal small differences in the contents of ash, protein, crude fiber and fat in the Moringa leaves of the municipalities studied.

Limitations on study/implications: The study period was less than one year.

Findings/conclusions: It was found that Moringa leaves from the municipality of Emiliano Zapata have higher protein, crude fiber and fat content than those from Veracruz. However, both are superior to other Moringa cultivars from the state of Veracruz.