Author : Rodriguez, Felicito M.; Tecson-Mendoza, Evelyn Mae

Summary : Eight legumes indigenous to the Philippines namely, batao or hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), sword bean (C. gladiata), sam-samping (Mucuna pruriens or conchichinensis), sabawel (Clitoria ternatea) pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) and rice bean (Vigna umbellata) were screened for the presence of alkaloids. Alkaloids were not detected in the mature seeds of all the samples. High to very high levels of alkaloids were detected in mature and immature leaves of pigeon pea, jack bean, and sword bean and none in batao, lima bean, rice bean and sabawel. Soaking the leaves in water at 60 degrees centigrade for 60 min reduced completely the alkaloids. Soaking at 30 degrees centigrade for 30 min to 45 degrees centigrade for 30 min did not remove the alkaloids while soaking at 45 degrees centigrade for 60 min and at 60 degrees centigrade for 30 min partially removed all the alkaloids.