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Samh seeds obtained from Al-Jouf area were ground into flour analyzed and used as a replacement for wheat in the ratio of 10, 20 and 30% for bread and 30, 60 100% for cookies. The rheological effect of the Samh flour on Saudi wheat flour was also studied. The bread and cookies obtained were evaluated physically and by sensory evaluation. The results obtained indicated that samh flour has high protein content and could be used as a replacement for wheat flour upto 30% without adversely affecting the bread specific volume much. Samh flour has improved the cookies appearance specially the colour (chocolate colour) and spreading ratio. The results also revealed that it is possible to make cookies from 100% samh flour. Due to the high protein content of the samh seeds the nutritional value of the bread and cookies made with samh flour will be improved. The results of the sensory evaluation of the bread and cookies indicated that the bread made with samh flour upto 30% has similar characters except for the crumb color and the overall acceptability which were rated as significantly inferior. The sensory evaluation of the cookies showed that the cookies made with samh flour upto 100% were significantly superior (p < 0.05) to the cookies made with 100% wheat flour (control). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of samh seeds have been investigated. Proximate analysis showed a composition of 22.25% protein, 5.7% moisture, 5.6% fat, 4.0% ash, 9.7% crude fiber, and the remainder being total carbohydrates. Mineral element analysis revealed that potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium were present as the major elements. Iron, manganese, zinc and copper were found at lower levels. However, lead was not detected in the samh seeds. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the methylester of the fatty acids of the samh seeds oil revealed the presence of fourteen fatty acids. Linoleic and oleic acids were the principle unsaturated fatty acids. While palmitic acid was the main saturated fatty acid. Amino acid analysis of the samh seeds showed the presence of seventeen amino acids including eight essential amino acids. Glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid were the major amino acids. Cystine and proline were present in trace amounts. These results some of which have not been reported elsewhere indicate the high nutritional potential of Saudi samh seeds. The total aerobic bacterial count and total sporeformers of seeds were 19 x 10(7) and 5 x 10(4) cfu/g respectively, thus the enterobacteriaceae, B cereus and yeast and molds were 5 x 10(2), 1 x 10(2) and 7 x 10(2) respectively. The seeds were Staph. free and the samh extract had no antimicrobial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]