Abstract
Many wild weeds are used in Mexico as fodder. Due to their economic value, this investigation was undertaken to determine the chemical composition of 14 species. The mineral, crude protein, fiber, and total phenolic content, as well as the antioxidant activity, was determined. There was a significant variation in the mineral content among the 14 weeds, which all had calcium and potassium as the predominant elements. According to the results, some of the weeds might represent possible mineral deficiency sources, making the supplementation of certain minerals advisable. Although five of the species contained a low concentration of magnesium, the overall mineral ratios of the forage weeds were at safe levels, preventing grazing animals suffering from grass tetany, in contrast to the excessive calcium : phosphorus ratios that can affect their normal growth and bone development. The crude fiber and protein content in most of the weeds fell into the recommended range for the maintenance of cattle. The phenolic content of the studied weed extracts was higher than that reported for several Mediterranean forage species. These phenolic profiles correlate well with the radical scavenging activities of the extracts.
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