The impact of processing on hemp seeds protein complex

Abstract

Recently, commercial hemp seeds, Cannabis sativa L., have attracted considerable interest in nutritional and industrial research due to their high nutritional value and good digestibility. Hemp seeds are becoming a new source of vegetable protein and the necessary components for maintaining health due to the rich content of protein compounds, vitamins, and unsaturated fatty acids. The effect of processing on the protein complex of low THC hemp seeds was studied in the current study. Standard methods of analysis (determination of protein, fat, moisture) and special methods (determination of the ratio of protein fractions of hemp seeds and products of their processing) were applied in the work. The objects of study were hemp seeds (Surskaya variety) and products of their de-oiling by mechanical and chemical methods. The globulin fraction predominance in the original hemp seeds (69.44%) and in the product obtained by hemp seeds de-oiling with hexane (fine fraction of meal, 80.94%) was revealed. Glutelin fraction (38.98%) prevailed in hemp seed flour obtained by cold pressing. After the hemp seeds processing (pressing, extraction), the ratio of protein fractions (albumin, globulin and glutelin) in the resulting products changed: meal (1:3.2:3.2), fine fraction (0.1:4.7:1) and flour (1.1:1:1.4), in comparison with the initial raw material (1:2.5:0.1). A significant increase in the glutelin fraction: from 2.78 to 43.10 and 38.98%, by mechanical and chemical methods, respectively, and a decrease in the amount of water- and salt-soluble fractions were observed with all processing methods. Researches of the study of the ratio of oilseeds protein fractions are of practical importance for improving healthy foods quality.