Even featuring a relatively high level in proteins, the flour of cassavaleaves presents low digestibility, mainly, due to the presence of such substances as polyphenols. Seeking to improve the protein availability of such flour, three solvents (water, ethanol 50mL/100mL and ammonium hydroxide 1mol/L) were used for the removal of the polyphenols. Mature leaves of cassava were picked in phase of vegetative development, in three repetitions, they were placed in paper trays and dried under shadow, on a wood bench, in a shut and airy place, at room temperature. After drying, the petioles were removed and the leaves were ground and sieved using 40-mesh sieve. The flour was submitted, before e after removal of polyphenols, to the analyses of moisture, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), total sugars, crude protein, vitamin total C, beta-carotene, cyanide, trypsin inhibitor, polyphenols and in vitro protein digestibility. After the removal of the polyphenols, there was a decrease in the levels of total sugars, vitamin total C, trypsin inhibitor and polyphenols and an increase in the levels of NDF, ADF, crude protein, beta-carotene and in vitro protein digestibility. Of the solvents employed in the removal the polyphenols, the ammonium hydroxide was the most effective, with index of removal of 94%, followed by the ethanol (83%) and water (65%). The in vitro protein digestibility increased of 74%, when the solvent employed in the removal of the polyphenols was the ammonium hydroxide.
cassava leaves; nutrients; antinutrients; polyphenols; protein digestibility
