Lentil flours were extracted with 80% ethanol at 25 and 50
C for 1, 2, or 3 h. The various nitrogenfractions, soluble carbohydrates, three amino acids (Lys, His, and Tyr), available lysine, proteindigestibility, and vitamins B
1 and B
2 were
analyzed to evaluate the effect of extraction. Extractionresulted in an increase in the total nitrogen content of the extracted flours, with extractiontemperature affecting the nature of the nitrogen (protein or nonprotein) content. There was also alarge reduction in the oligosaccharides of the raffinose family, although the effect of temperaturewas appreciable only in the case of stachyose. There was hardly any effect on the concentrations ofthe amino acids
analyzed or on protein digestibility; however, a positive correlation between proteindigestibility and the available lysine was recorded in the samples. The vitamin B
1 and B
2 contentsunderwent variable decreases depending on extraction temperature.Keywords: Lentils; ethanol extraction; protein quality; soluble carbohydrates; vitamins B
1 and B
2