Amino Acid Composition of Selected Sesame Accessions and the Effect of Accelerated Ageing on Catalase Activity

ABSTRACT   Influence of accelerated ageing on the amino acid composition and catalase activity of sesame seeds was investigated. Sesame seeds were sourced from the experimental farm at the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) in Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria. Results showed that the TNEAA class exhibited the highest concentration of amino acids, ranging from 5.6±4.327 mg/100g in NCRIBEN131 to 6.80±4.852 mg/100g in NCRIBEN106. TEAA and TARAA were observed to be highest in accession NCRIBEN201 (3.91±1.5940 mg/100g and 3.06±1.812 mg/100g respectively) while accession NCRIBEN121 had the lowest concentrations of 3.32±1.3879 mg/100g and 2.41±1.529 mg/100g respectively. Accession NCRIBEN106 exhibited the highest catalase activity consistently throughout the ageing period, with values ranging from 31.96±0.21 mg/mL/min on Day 0 to 29.10±0.03 mg/mL/min on Day 6. In contrast, NCRIBEN203 had the lowest catalase activity of 20.21±0.76 mg/mL/min on Day 0, and NCRIBEN121 had the lowest on Day 6 (14.21±0.81 mg/mL/min). Therefore, sesame seeds are shown to be an excellent source of both essential and non-essential amino acids, with glutamic acid and arginine being prominently present. Also, accelerated ageing leads to a decrease in catalase activity which may be attributed to the formation of cracks and bruises in seeds during the ageing process, thereby exposing the enzyme to leakages.