Effects of fermentation on the nutritional status of Afzelia africana Sm. seed and its potentiality as aqua feedstuff

Abstract

The effects of fermentation on proximate and anti-nutrient compositions of Afzelia africana seed were investigated. Two methods of fermentation  were employed; the traditional fermentation (TF) and gut-filtrate treated fermentation (GFTF). Anti-nutrients tested for were; alkaloids, phytate, tannins, saponins and flavonoids. All proximate contents varied significantly (P<0.05), except for ash. Afzelia africana fermented with cow gut filtrate poised the highest protein (19.35%), ash (4.20%) and lipid (32.13%) contents. The effects of cow gut filtrate fermentation on the nutritional status of A. Africana seed was only apparently (P>0.05) more pronounced than those of the natural fermentation. Fermentation significantly (P<0.05) increased the proximate nutrients except for nitrogen free extracts; which it reduced significantly. Fermentation also increased all anti-nutrients  composition of the seeds except for phytate content. Fermentation significantly (P<0.05) enhanced crude protein by 30.45% for NF, 39.31% for GFTF and crude lipid by 77.64% for TF and 99.56% for GTFT. Thus fermenting Afzelia africana seed for aquaculture purpose is advocated for owing to its ability to enhance crude protein and crude lipid, not forgetting its medicinal potential due to its enhanced phytochemical levels.

Keywords: Afzelia africana, Anti-nutrients, Fermentation, Proximate composition.