MINERAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF AFRICAN BLACK PLUM PLANT PARTS AS POTENTIAL SUPPLEMENT IN RUMINANT DIETS

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the mineral and anti-nutritional concentration in the different plant parts of
African black plum. Fresh leaves and ripe fruits of the plant were collected from trees within and around Federal University Dutse, Jigawa state, Nigeria. Mineral and anti-nutritional constituents were analyzed. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS (1999) statistical package. The result revealed the nut had significantly (p<0.05) higher contents of calcium (2.62%), sodium (2.30%), potassium (1.41%), phosphorus (0.67%), zinc (50.18ppm) and copper (11.19ppm) whereas magnesium, manganese and iron were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the fruit (0.27 ppm, 121.60 ppm and 345.11 ppm, respectively). Phytate content (1.04%) was higher (p<0.05) in the leaf while the least tannin concentration (1.13%) was obtained in the fruit. Oxalate and saponins were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the nut whereas alkaloid content was similar (p>0.05) among the different plant parts. The different plant parts of African black plum examined had appreciable quantities of macro and trace minerals and the levels of anti-nutritional factors were within the limit tolerable by ruminants, as such, these plant could be a potential feed supplement for ruminants.