The Proximate, Phytochemical and Mineral Properties of Senna Occidentalis Leaf and some Local Feed Ingredients

Abstract

This Senna occidentalis is a common tropical legume whose leave used to remedy many health challenges. These may be due to its nutritional status and can also be utilized as feed ingredient for fish and other domestic animals. The proximate, phytochemical and mineral properties of Senna occidentalis leaf will give insight of its bioactive components, nutritional and medicinal values. S. occidentalis collected from Fogbe and Lapai, in Niger state, Nigeria were investigated together with the proximate of soybean, maize and fishmeal purchased from Lapai market. The S. occidentalis leaves were air dried pulverized into powdered, soybean seed, maize and fish were also grind into powder. The proximate analyses of the feed ingredients were conducted. The phytochemical and mineral analyses of S. occidentalis leaf were done by using Atomic Absorption Spectrum (AAS). The S. occidentalis leaf has 30.83±4.59% protein, 2.95±1.41% moisture, 8.73±2.20 % ash, 18.12±2.12% fibre, 5.64±1.78% lipid and 33.73±1.00% carbohydrate contents. The proximate analyses show that fishmeal (67.35±5.55%) has high protein, soybean has high lipid (27.83±3.14%), and maize with high carbohydrate value of 79.47±1.07%. flavonoid (2.18±0.82mg/g) was high among the S. occidentalis leaf phytochemicals, phenolic compounds (1.58±0.75mg/g), alkaloid (1.23±0.32 mg/g) and saponin (0.33±0.01mg/g). S. occidentalis leaf was found to contain 105±0.43mg/L Chloride, 29.6±0.28mg/L calcium ion, 6.0±0.38mg/L sodium, 4.5±0.42mg/L nitrate, 3.0±0.08mg/L potassium, 0.07±0.01mg/L phosphate and 0.04±0.34mg/L nitrite that fall within normal range. With the foregoing constituents, S. occidentalis leaf has antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties and also precursor for syntheses of bioactive substances.