Nutritional evaluation of baby corn (zea mays)

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study nutritional composition of HM-4 variety of baby corn. Design/methodology/approach - Baby corn was analysed for proximate composition, available carbohydrates, dietary fiber constituents, in vitro digestibility, minerals, anti-nutrients, vitamin and amino acids. Findings - Baby corn contained 90.03, 17.96, 2.13, 5.30 and 5.89 percent moisture, protein, fat, ash and crude fibre, respectively. Total soluble sugars content was 23.43 g/100 gm and reducing sugars was 1.96 g/100 g. It contained 8.10 g/100 g of cellulose and 5.41 g/100 g of lignin. In vitro starch and protein digestibility was 28.80 mg maltose released per gram and 72.18 percent, respectively. Baby corn contained 5.43 mg/100 g of ascorbic acid and 670 mu g/100 g of beta-carotene. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus content of baby corn was 95.00, 345.00 and 898.62 mg/100 g, respectively, baby corn contained 0.05, 2.85 and 0.675 mu g/g of methionine, isoleucine and leucine, respectively. Originality/value - The study indicated that baby corn is good source of various nutrients like protein, crude fibre, carbohydrates and dietary fibres and its nutritional quality is at par or even superior to many other commonly used vegetables.