PROXIMATE STUDY, MINERAL AND ANTI-NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF CYMBOPOGON CITRANUS LEAVES HARVESTED FROM ILORIN, NIGERIA: POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN ANIMAL NUTRITION AND HEALTH
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Date
2017-11-20
Authors
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Publisher
wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
The leaves of Cymbopogon citranus (Lemon
grass) were harvested from Kwara State
metropolis in Nigeria during the late rainy
season in June 2015 for the proximate,
mineral and phytochemical analysis .This
study was conducted to know the nutritive
value of lemongrass harvested and its
potential in Animal Production and health.
The standard procedures of AOAC (2003)
were used to analyze the proximate
composition and mineral analysis. The
results of proximate analysis revealed the
presence of high crude protein (8.51%
±0.06). The leaves also contained
appreciable amounts of crude fibre (4.49%
±0.02), ash (8.02% ± 0.04), crude fat (2.99%
±0.02). The total ash content showed it
contained minerals, Ca (0.62% ±0.00), K
(1.59% ±0.01), Na (280.00±0.01), Fe
(286.5±0.01), Mn (61.56±0.15), Zn
(21.91±0.06) and P (30.15±0.00) parts per
million (ppm). Magnesium (0.44% ±0.00)
and copper (5.73±0.00) were the least. The
results of phytochemical analysis and
antinutrients showed presence of tannins
(0.006% ±0.00), saponins (0.67% ±0.00),
alkaloid (0.53%±0.00), steroids
(0.001±0.00), phenols (0.07±0.00) and
flavonoids (0.001±0.00). The presence of
these essential nutrients and minerals
showed that Lemon grass is a potential
source of feed supplement to enhance
maximum productivity and improve growth
performance of livestock
progress in traits that shows high heritability
and or repeatability such as litter weaning
weight.
Description
Increased pressure in terms of food
safety, raising concerns about animal health
and environmental
protection, increasing antibiotic resistance
and strong global tendencies to reduce
antibiotic growth promoters are some
circumstances which tend to showcase
phytogenic additives as a plausible
alternative for profitable animal production
(Steyregg/Hannoer, 2014; Karascova, 2015). Interest has grown in the utilization of what
have come to be known as multipurpose
plants.