Abstract
The study was carried out to determine the anti-nutrient, vitamin and other phytochemical compositions of old and succulent leaves of Moringa oleifera plants as influenced by poultry manure application. Three levels of poultry manure, that is, 0, 5 and 10 tonnes ha-1 were used for treatment. Poultry manure application insignificantly (p > 0.05) increased oxalate, phytate and saponin compositions of the leaves. The older leaves had higher values of tannin, oxalate, phytate and saponin than the succulent ones. The poultry manure levels did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05) in the proximate/chemical properties and some vitamins (vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C). Succulent leaves had higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties. The higher concentrations of the anti-nutrients in the older leaves and higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties in the succulent ones provide a good guide to moringa leaf consumers, to harvest the younger succulent (first to fifth) leaves for consumption. Key words: Anti-nutrients, moringa leaves, poultry manure, phytochemicals, vitamins.
Highlights
Anti-nutrients are substances which interfere with the metabolism and utilization of body nutrients; examples are phytates, oxalates, tannins and saponins
The higher concentrations of the anti-nutrients in the older leaves and higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties in the succulent ones provide a good guide to moringa leaf consumers, to harvest the younger succulent leaves for consumption
The poultry manure was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, sodium (Na), pH, organic matter (OM) and organic carbon (C)
Summary
Anti-nutrients are substances which interfere with the metabolism and utilization of body nutrients; examples are phytates, oxalates, tannins and saponins. Moringa leaves have been found to contain little quantities of the anti-nutrients (Moyo et al, 2011). Phytates decrease the availability of minerals and reduce protein digestion by the formation of phytic acid protein complex (Oz, 2013).
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