Evaluation of the Phytochemical Composition of Xylopia aethiopica and Tetrapleura tetraptera Fruit Meals as Potential Feed Additives in Poultry Production

Abstract

Phytogenics play an important role in livestock industry. They serve as alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. Evaluation of the phytochemical composition of Xylopia aethiopica and Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meals as feed additives in poultry was investigated. A sample of each test material was taken to the laboratory for proximate analysis, and qualitative and quantitave phytochemical analysis. The results showed that alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, phytates, and oxalates were present in the two materials. Tannins, saponins and terpenoids were the main phytochemicals (5.36±0.03, 3.01±0.03 and 1.14±0.03, respectively) in X. aethiopica, while saponins, tannins and alkaloids were the major phytochemicals (4.10±0.01, 1.85±0.03 and 1.29±0.04, respectively) in T. tetraptera. Oxalate was very low in X. aethiopica (0.02±0.01) and T. tetraptera (0.22±0.02). It was concluded that X. aethiopica and T. tetraptera are rich sources of important and biologically active phytochemicals, especially tannins, saponins, and alkaloids; and these phytochemicals play vital roles in health of animals.