Accessing the nutritional composition and phytochemical screening of Panicum maximum and Newbouldia laevis leaves

Abstract

Ruminant livestock in most parts of the tropics graze extensively on naturally growing forages which are poor in quality. These tropical forages compared to those in the temperate, support lower levels of ruminant animal production mainly because they contain less nitrogen and are less digestible. The quality and quantity of these grasses become more critical in the dry seasons and thereby imposing more serious constraint to the development and productivity of these animals. Therefore, a study was conducted to access nutritional composition of Panicum maximum and Newbouldia laevis. Phytochemical screening of Newbouldia laevis was also carried out. Newbouldia laevis had higher crude fibre, ether extract and crude protein compared to Panicim maximum. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Tannin, Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Saponnin in Newbouldia laevis. The percentages of tannin, alkaloids, flavonoids and saponin in the Newbouldia laevis were 11.5, 52.07, 3.1 and 0.64, respectively while none was recorded for Panicum maximum. The relatively high crude fibre, ether extract and crude protein values for both plants s appeared satisfactory for animal production. Also, the presence of the phytochemicals in the plant showed it importance in ethno veterinary medicine and pharmacology.

Keywords: Nutritional composition, Phytochemical screening, Panicum maximum and
Newbouldia laevis leaves