PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF AFRICAN MESQUITE (Prosopis africana) POD

Abstract

This study investigated the proximate and phytochemical compositions of different parts of African mesquite (Prosopis africana) pod. Results of chemical composition analyses revealed that the percentage crude (CP) composition of the seeds was 25% while the CP compositions of the epicarp and mesocarp were 6.40% and 6.14% respectively. The mesocarp contained the highest composition of crude fibre (21.71%) and ether extract (2.37%). Least values of crude fibre (6.60%) and ether extract (1.27%) compositions were observed in the seeds and epicarp respectively. The ash content of the epicarp was 4.45%, while the mesocarp and seeds contained 3.77 and 3.51% ash respectively. The nitrogen-free extracts in the different parts of the African mesquite pod was between 63.15 (seeds) and 68.30% (epicarp). The epicarp had highest concentration of alkaloid (6.018%), tannins (2.467mg/kg) and phytate (0.135%), while the seeds contained highest concentration of flavonoids (0.371mg/kg) and oxalates (0.578%). The mesocarp had the least concentration of tannins (1.733mg/kg), alkaloids (4.053mg/kg), flavonoids

(0.169mg/kg) and oxalates (0.255%). It was inferred that the different parts of P. africana contained sufficient quantities of which could be considered as feed resource for livestock. However, further processing of the epicarp and mesocarp would be necessary when considering incorporating them in diets of monogastrics.