PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AFRICAN WALNUT Plukenetia conophora SEED AND LEAF: IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR USE IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6856Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the proximate and phytochemical composition of African walnut (Plukenetia conophora) seeds and leaves. The proximate analysis of the seeds and leaves revealed that the leaf has a higher values (p< 0.05) than the seeds in moisture content (26.20%), ash content (9.66%), and crude fiber (13.63%) while the seed recorded a higher yield in crude protein (22.09%) dry matter (50.48%) and Nitrogen free extract (45.27%). The phytochemical analysis of seed and leaf revealed that seed has a higher yield in tannins (0.80mg/g), saponins (1.08mg/g), flavonoids (0.02mg/g), glycosides (0.05mg/g) and reducing sugars (2.86mg/g) while the leaf recorded higher value in alkaloids (2.48mg/g), anthraquinones (0.14mg/g) and soluble carbohydrates (1.07mg/g). The result of the study showed that Plukenetia conophora seed and leaf contained nutrients that are important for animal's body health. Thus, they could be recommended as non-conventional feed ingredient after due evaluation have been done.