Nutritional and Anti-nutritional Analysis of Monechma ciliatum Leaves

Monechma ciliatum leaves are widely used as hay for animal nutrition and in traditional medicine for treatment of various ailments. The leaves were analyzed for proximate, minerals and anti-nutritional content using standard analytical methods. The results showed that the leaves contain moisture (84.09±0.81%), ash (14.00±0.50%), crude protein (5.34±0.15%), crude lipid (4.14±0.29%), crude fibre (3.02±0.29%), available carbohydrate (73.50±0.51%), and calorific value (352.63±1.42 kJ/100g). The mineral analysis of the leaves (mg/100g) revealed the presence: sodium (367.61±3.18 mg/100g), potassium (931.59±10.70 mg/100g), magnesium (213.77±2.31 mg/100g), calcium (2444.60±43.70 mg/100g), phosphorus (10.99±0.12 mg/100g), copper (1.19±0.39 mg/100g), iron (73.03±1.65 mg/100g), manganese (5.33±0.25 mg/100g), zinc (4.74±0.17 mg/100 g), and chromium (2.93±0.59 mg/100g). It also contains oxalate, tannins and phytic acid as anti-nutrients. The study showed that the leaves of M. ciliatum contain substantial levels of nutrient which could be useful in animal diet, with considerably low levels of anti-nutritional content which is below established toxic level.