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Asian Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2019 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 693-701
DOI: 10.17311/ajbs.2019.693.701
Physicochemical Characterizations of Leaf Meals Derived from Tropical Plants as Possible Nutraceuticals in Animal Production
I.C. Okoli, C.O.I. Udedibie, C.C. Achonwa, I.P. Ogbuewu , N.J. Anyanwu and V.H.A. Enemor

Abstract: Background and Objective: The leaves of many tropical plants are habitually given to animals as fodder without adequate knowledge of the nutritional and pharmacological compositions that generate their desirable effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical characteristics of leaf meals of Garcinia kola, Gongronema latifolium and Mucuna pruriens as candidate nutraceuticals in animal production. Materials and Methods: They were collected from surrounding farmlands and bushes at Ihiagwa, Owerri west Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo state, Nigeria. The leaf meals were subjected to physicochemical characterization to determine their bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), specific gravity (SG), proximate composition, metabolizable energy, fibre fractions, minerals and secondary metabolite concentrations. Results: The G. latifolium had higher bulk density than M. pruriens and G. kola, while G. kola had higher water holding capacity (WHC) value. The G. latifolium yielded highest crude protein, crude fat, total ash and metabolizable energy values, while for crude fiber contents of M. pruriens yielded the highest. Conclusion: It is therefore, concluded that G. latifolium, G. kola and M. pruriens are endowed with essential nutrients and bioactive substances.

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How to cite this article
I.C. Okoli, C.O.I. Udedibie, C.C. Achonwa, I.P. Ogbuewu, N.J. Anyanwu and V.H.A. Enemor, 2019. Physicochemical Characterizations of Leaf Meals Derived from Tropical Plants as Possible Nutraceuticals in Animal Production. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences, 12: 693-701.

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