Author(s)

Haftom Zebib¹, Geremew Bultosa², Solomon Abera³

¹Abergelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Abi-Adi, Ethiopia.
²Department of Food Science and Technology, Botswana College of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana.
³Department of Food Technology and Process Engineering, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

This study was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of three sesame varieties: Adi, Bawnji and T-85. Sesame varieties showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences on some physical properties, proximate, mineral, anti-nutritional (phytic acid) and antioxidant compositions. The average values of 1000 seed weight were ranged from (2.74 - 3.16 g) and true density from (1190.66 to 1215.58 kg m^-3). The moisture (wb), crude protein, ash, fat, fiber, total carbohydrate, Ca, Zn and Fe (db) were ranged: 3.17% - 3.96%, 22.58% - 24.27%, 4.46% - 6.19%, 50.88% - 52.67%, 5.60% - 6.26%, 8.3% - 11.69%, 1172.08 - 1225.71 mg/100g, 4.23 - 4.45 mg/100g and 10.2 - 10.75 mg/100g, respectively. Phytic acid contents were ranged from 307.61 to 324.91 mg/100g, total phenolics from (23.16 - 25.69 mg GAE/g) and ferric ion reducing power value from (32.33 - 34.53 μmol/g) (db). The results were compared with some other sesame varieties grown worldwide. Results showed that Ethiopian sesame varieties were good source in nutrients and were functional foods for human nutrition and utilization.

Anti-nutritional, Antioxidant, Mineral, Physical properties, Proximate composition, Sesame varieties

Zebib, H. , Bultosa, G. and Abera, S. (2015) Physico-chemical Properties of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Varieties Grown in Northern Area, Ethiopia. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 238-246. doi: 10.4236/as.2015.62024.