CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM LEAF MEAL AS A POTENTIAL FEED RESOURCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7221Keywords:
Proximate composition, Phytochemicals, Gongronema latifolium, mealAbstract
An analysis was carried out to investigate the proximate and phytochemical composition of Gongronema latifolium leaf meal using the AOAC methods of analysis. The fresh leaves were air-dried, milled and analysed in triplicates. The results showed that air-dried Gongronema latifolium leaf meal contains 17.16% crude protein, 5.14% ether extract or fat, 9.86% crude fibre and 10.97% ash while the phytochemicals present include: phytic acid, 0.25%; total oxalates, 5.26%; saponins,
0.57%; tannins, 3.85%; glycosides, 4.62%; alkaloids. 6.01%; mimosine. 0.18%; L-Dopa, 0.06%; haemaglutinins, 0.62% and trypsin inhibitor, 0.03%. High crude protein content and the presence of these phytochemicals have shown that this plant has nutritive benefits and potential as a feed resource.
