This study was conducted on jojoba meal and its protein isolate to evaluate its chemical and biological characteristics as an alternative source of protein materials. Defatted jojoba meal contained 31.89±1.12% crude protein, simmondsin 3.33±0.02%, total phenolic compounds 2.67±0.02%. Phytate content was found to be 2.39±0.05% in the defatted meal. Glutamic and aspartic acids were the most abundant amino acids. The total essential amino acids content was 37.1%.
Solvent extraction, heat and chemical methods have been used for detoxification of jojoba meal to make it palatable and nutritionally acceptable as a livestock feed ingredient. The better solvent for extraction was isopropanol-water (7:3), which eliminated 83.48% of simmondsin, 51.31% of total phenolic compound and 27.62% of phytic acid contained in defatted jojoba meal. Heating was less effective but more selective than isopropanol for elimination of antinutritional materials. Heating at 100°C for 3 h was the best heating treatment in removing the antinutritional factors.
Rats fed on untreated jojoba meal showed a significant increase in lipid profile e.g. triglycerides and total cholesterol. The activities of liver enzymes (ALT & AST) were significantly increased, this indicates the incidence of liver disfunction. The level of serum creatinine and urea did not alter. On the other hand, the rats group which received 10 % jojoba protein isolate reveald improve in weight gain and serum parameters.
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