Dietary Supplementation of Rauvolfia Vomitoria Root extract as a Phytogenic Feed additive in Growing Rabbit diets: Haematology and Serum Biochemical Indices

The objective of the present study was to determine effect of dietary supplementation of Rauvolfia vomitoria root extract (RVME) as a phytogenic feed additive in growing rabbit diets: haematology and serum biochemical indices. Thirty (30) weaned rabbits of mixed breed and sex between 6-7 weeks with an average weight of 530.9 and 533.0 grams were divided into five treatments with three replicates per treatment consisting of 2 rabbits per replicate in a completely randomized design. Rabbits in treatment 1 (T1) were fed basal diet with 0 % RVME while T2, T3, T4 and T5 were given RVME at 20 ml, 40ml, 60 ml, and 80 ml/litre of water respectively. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks; food and water were provided ad libitum and all other management were strictly observed. Data collected were used to evaluate the some haematological and serum biochemical indices of animals. Haematological parameters covered pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC) and its differentials while serum analysis contained total protein (Tp), globulin, albumin, creatinine, urea, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, aspartate serum aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alanine phosphatase (ALP). All the haematological parameters were significantly (P ˂0.05) different among the treatment. Creatinine, urea and chloride ions not influenced by the dietary treatments (P > 0.05) while the other serum biochemical parameters were significantly (P ˂0.05) affected by RVME. Increasing the level of RVME from 20 ml to 80 ml tended to reduce ALP, AST and ALT values. It was concluded that feeding rabbits RVME at 80 ml/ liter did not cause any negative effect on the health of the animals; the data revealed that all values were within the physiological reference range for rabbit

Proximate, Mineral and Phytochemical Analysis of Piliostigma Thonningii Stem Bark and Roots

Proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of Piliostigma thonningii stem bark and roots was investigated to determine the level of bioactive chemicals in the plant. The result revealed that proximate composition of Piliostigma thonningii stem bark (PSSB) contained moisture 7.11 %, dry matter (DM) 92.89 %, crude protein (CP) 4.22 %, crude fibre (CF) 52.81 %, ether extract (EE) 0.08 %, ash 8.11 %, carbohydrate 20.12 %, Nitrogen free extract (NFE) 26.67 % and energy 488.7 KJ/100g while Piliostigma thonningii root (PSSR) contained 8.34 % moisture, 91.66 % (DM), 7.40 % (CP), 41.60 % (CF), 2.10 % (EE), 12.80 % ash, 42.30 % carbohydrates, 27.76 % (NFE) and energy 922.6 KJ/100g. Mineral analysis of PSSB revealed the presence of Ca (55.19 mg/100g), P (29.93 mg/100g), Mg (40.10 mg/100g), K (18.73 mg/100g), Zn (12.09 mg/100g), Mn (3.11 mg/100g), Na (20.40 mg/100g), Cu (8.01 mg/100g), Fe (48.12 mg/100g), Cr (0.010 mg/100g), Cd (0.028 mg/100g), Co (0.021 mg/100g), Se (0.28 mg/100g) and Pb (0.010 mg/100g) while PSSR contained Ca (87.63 mg/100g), P (43.12 mg/100g), K (21.08 mg/100g), Mg (48.75 mg/100g), Zn (18.01 mg/100g), Mn (7.32 mg/100g), Fe (53.17 mg/100g), Na (22.72 mg/100g), Cu (12.54 mg/100g), Co (0.048 mg/100g), Cr (0.002 mg/100g), Se (1.56 mg/100g), Cd (0.040 mg/100g) and Pb (0.016 mg/100g). Phytochemical analysis of PSSR showed that it contained significant amount of bioactive chemicals of alkaloids (7.23 %), flavonoids (5.10 %), terpenoids (0.71 %), hydrolysable tannins (2.41 %), condensed tannins (0.10 %), phenols (5.02 %), saponins (0.17 %), steroids (2.00 %), phytates (0.77 %), glycosides (0.08 %) and cyanates (0.03 %) relative to alkaloids (5.11%), flavonoids (3.46 %), terpenoids (0.49 %), hydrolysable tannins (1.92 %), condensed tannins (0.19 %), phenols (4.00 %), saponins (0.22 %), steroids (1.18 %), phytates (0.51 %), glycosides (0.10 %) and cyanates (0.15 %) found in PSSB. It was concluded that PSSR contained appreciable amount of minerals and bioactive chemicals and could be considered as a potential alternative to antibiotics in livestock production

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY AND MASS SPECTROSCOPY OF JUNIPERUS PHOENICE STEM BARK EXTRACT AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE HAEMATO BIOCHEMICAL VALUES OF GROWING RABBITS

Juniperus phoenice stem bark have been source of wide array of bioactive compounds with endless therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy of Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract and its influence on the haemato-biochemical values of growing rabbits. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy of Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract revealed the presence of 37 phytoconstituents with varying concentrations with total aggregate of 95.28 %. 40 – 6 weeks growing male rabbits (Newzealand white × chinchilla) weighing 456 ± 8.03 were randomly assigned to 4 groups (A, B, C and D) of 10 animals which was further divided into 5 replicates consisting of 2 rabbits each in a completely randomized design. Basal diet according to the nutrient requirement of rabbits outlined by NRC (1977). Animals in group A was fed basal diet with 0 % Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract (JPSB) while B, C and D were fed basal diet with JPSB at 3 mL, 6 mL and 9 mL once daily. It was observed that rabbits in group D fed 9 mL/day had a significantly (P˂0.05) higher pack cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cells and their differentials compared to the other treatment except basophil count were not significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by the treatments. Similarly, serum biochemical indices values were topmost in G3 (6 mL/day) and G4 (9 mL/day), midway in G2 (3 mL/day) and lowest in G1 (0 mL/day). Creatinine, urea and total bilirubin count were not significantly (P˃0.05) different among the treatments. It was concluded that JPSB has potential pharmaceutical properties and can be fed to growing rabbits up to 9 mL/day without jeopardizing the health of animals

CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF PROXIMATE, VITAMIN AND AMINO ACID PROFILE OF LEAF, STEM BARK AND ROOT OF INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA

Medicinal plants contain substances with high therapeutic value because they contain multiple bioactive chemicals. Chemical analysis of Indigofera tinctoria leaves stem bark and roots was evaluated

PROXIMATE, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND VITAMIN COMPOSITIONS OF PROSOPIS AFICANA STEM BARK

The use of plants or natural products have recently gained global interest due to the increasing awareness on the dangers of synthetic drugs and chemicals in terms of its adverse affect and anticipated toxicity, plants have played vital roles in bridging the gap between food safety and livestock production; they are cheap, effective and safe due to the presence of phytochemicals or bioactive chemicals, therefore this study was carried out to examine the proximate, phytochemical and vitamin compositions of Prosopis aficana stem bark (PAD). Proximate analysis revealed the presence of moisture (8.35 %), dry matter (91.65 %), crude protein (4.87 %), crude fibre (45.60 %), ether extract (0.81 %), ash (11.52 %) and carbohydrates (28.85 %). Phytochemical screening of PAD showed that it contained hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, phytic acid and oxalates at 3.33 %, 0.17 %, 5.45 %, 9.83 %, 2.10 %, 1.82 %, 4.02 %, 0.78 % and 0.85 % respectively. PAD contained ?-carotene (1.51 mg/100g), vitamin B1 (0.33 mg/100g), vitamin B2 (0.94 mg/100g), vitamin B3 (0.42 mg/100g), vitamin B6 (0.20 mg/100g), vitamin B9 (0.18 mg/100g), vitamin B12 (0.88 mg/100g), vitamin C (4.22 mg/100g), vitamin D (0.12 mg/100g) and vitamin K (0.21 mg/100g). It was concluded that PAD is loaded with nutrients and phytochemicals which confers them the ability to perform multiple biological activities and are also precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs

Chemical evaluation of proximate, vitamin and amino acid profile of leaf, stem bark and root of indigofera tinctoria

Medicinal plants contain substances with high therapeutic value because they contain multiple bioactive chemicals. Chemical analysis of Indigofera tinctoria leaves, stem bark and roots was evaluated. The result revealed that proximate composition of Indigofera tinctoria leaves contained 12.49 % moisture content (M.C), 87.51 % dry matter (DM), 30.53 % crude protein (CP), 19.02 % crude fibre (CF), 2.44 % ether extract (EE), 13.86 % ash, 36.59 % carbohydrate (CHO) and 254.1 kcal/100g energy (ME). Indigofera tinctoria stem bark contained M.C (6.40 %), DM (93.60 %), CP (5.11 %), CF (54.49 %), EE (2.00 %), ash (10.42 %), CHO (29.98 %) and ME (156.0 kcal/100g). Indigofera tinctoria roots contained MC, DM, CP, CF, EE, ash, CHO and ME at 10.04 %, 89.60 %, 8.22 %, 40.88 %, 1.21 %, 8.43 %, 42.47 % and 210.0 kcal/100g respectively. Vitamin analysis showed that Indigofera tinctoria leaves, stem bark and roots contained β- carotene (8.45, 2.88 and 5.11 mg/100 g), Vitamin B1 (1.94, 0.33 and 1.00 mg/100 g), Vitamin B2 (0.71, 0.21 and 0.50 mg/100 g), Vitamin B3 (0.66, 0.34 and 0.48 mg/100 g), Vitamin B6 (0.32, 0.21 and 0.30 mg/100 g), Vitamin B7 (0.63, 0.01 and 0.16 mg/100 g), Vitamin B9 (0.26, 0.10 and 0.18 mg/100 g), Vitamin B12 (0.21, 0.03 and 0.10 mg/100 g), Vitamin C (14.0, 3.56 and 9.44 mg/100 g), Vitamin D (0.10, 0.01 and 0.06 mg/100 g) and Vitamin K (0.17, 0.07 and 0.12 mg/100 g). Amino acid analysis revealed the presence of threonine, leucine, lysine, valine, tryptophan, glycine, phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, alanine, serine, proline, aspartate, glutamic acid, tryrosine and cysteine in Indigofera tinctoria leaves, stem bark and roots at (7.65 %, 1.22 % and 3.03 %), (5.76, 1.09 % and 2.46 %), (3.11 %, 1.21% and 2.00 %), (7.21 %, 3.53 % and 4.09 %), (1.45%, 0.03% and 1.00 %), (4.76 %, 0.08 % and 2.33 %), (6.33 %, 2.45 % and 3.49 %), (7.42 %, 2.00 % and 3.00 %), (3.49 %, 0.01 % and 2.00 %), (2.41 %, 0.56 % and 1.20 %), (5.23 %, 1.22 % and 1.76 %), (2.87 %, 0.57 % and 1.00 %), (5.32 %, 2.11 % and 3.56 %), (9.66 %, 4.21 % and 5.11 %), (2.45 %, 0.57 % and 1.67 %) and (1.85 %, 0.81 % and 0.89 %) respectively. It was concluded that Indigofera tinctoria leaves, stem bark and roots are loaded with significant quantity of nutrients, vitamins and amino acid (leaves ˃ roots ˃ stem bark)

USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AS A PANACEA TO POULTRY PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY: A REVIEW

Medicinal plants remain the most untapped reservoir of potential therapeutic agents that can be exploited in reducing animal exposure to diseases.  Some plants possess significant immune stimulatory, hepatoprotective, anti- inflammatory, antifungal, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities due to the presence of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals or secondary metabolites are generally regarded as safe, effective, environmental freiendly and relatively cheap. Examples of phytochemicals includes; tannins, flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins and terpenoids. Concentrations of phytochemicals in plants vary from plant to plants, method of extraction, geographical locations, species and age of plants. Medicinal plants are capable of stimulating feed intake, enhancing growth performance, improving gastrointestinal morphology, immune modulator, nutrient utilization as well as modulating the fatty acid of meat. They are also recommended as one of the potential alternatives to antibiotics and to bridge the gap between food safety and livestock production

PHYTO-NUTRITIONAL PROFILES OF BROOM WEED (SIDA ACUTA) LEAF EXTRACT

Medicinal plants are abundant in phytochemicals that has significant therapeutic effects. They are relatively cheap, effective and safe in prolong use. This experiment was carried out to investigate the phyto-nutritional profile of broom weed (Sida acuta) leaf extract. Proximate analysis Sida acuta leaf indicated the presence of dry matter (91.88 %), crude protein (18.01 %), ash (9.73 %), crude fibre (6.24 %), ether extract (1.77 %) and energy (2760 Kcal/kg). Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, oxalate, phytate, alkaloids, terpenoids and glycosides at 0.82 %, 2.02 %, 4.25 %, 0.20 %, 0.17 %, 0.05 %, 0.23 %, 0.22 %, 0.95 % and 0.02 % respectively and the vitamin constituents are thiamine (0.33 mg/100g), ascorbic acid (30.17 mg/100g), riboflavin (0.05 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.79 mg/100g) and niacin (0.41 mg/100g). Mineral analysis showed that it contained calcium (127.6 mg/100g), phosphorus (78.6 mg/100g), potassium (31.6 mg/100g), magnesium (102.1 mg/100g), iron (2.14 mg/100g), manganese (0.60 mg/100g), copper (0.04 mg/100g) and zinc (1.75 mg/100g). Result on amino acid composition showed that they contained lysine (2.11 mg/100g), arginine (1.77 mg/100g), aspartic acid (2.13 mg/100g), threonine (1.85 mg/100g), histidine (4.71 mg/100g), serine (2.03 mg/100g), glycine (1.05 mg/100g), alanine (3.31 mg/100g), cystine (5.06 mg/100g), valine (0.88 mg/100g), leucine (2.04 mg/100g), phenyalanine (4.72 mg/100g), tyrosine (3.51 mg/100g), isoleucine (2.84 mg/100g), methionine (0.85 mg/100g) and proline (1.05 mg/100g). It was concluded that  Sida acuta leaf extract is rich in various nutrients and phytochemicals conferring it the ability to perform multiple biological activities and as a natural alternative to antibiotics.&nbsp

Heamatologfical and Serum Biochemical Indices of Starter Broiler Chicks Fed Aqueous Extract of Balanites Aegyptiaca and Alchornea Cordifolia Bark Mixture

A -28- day experiment was carried out to determine the hematological and some serum biochemical indices of starter broiler chicks fed aqueous extract of Balanites aegyptiaca and Alchornea cordifolia stem bark mixture (BACM). A total of two hundred and fifty (250) one-day old broiler chicks (Cobb) strain of mixed sex were randomly distributed into five treatments with 5 replicates, each replicates contained 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was fed basal diet + 0 % BACM (control), Treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed basal diet + 20, 40, 60 and 80 ml/liter BACM. Basal diet was formulated to meet the nutritional requirement of birds according to NRC (1994); feed and water was offered ad libitum and birds were vaccinated according to the prevailing disease condition in the environment. Result revealed that all the hematological parameters measured (PCV, ESR, Hb, RBC, WBC, leucocytes, monocytes, heterophils and eosinophils) were significantly (P˂0.05) different among the treatments. Albumin, globulin, total protein, cholesterol, urea, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, bicarbonate, ALP, ALT and AST were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced among the treatments. Glucose, creatinine, sodium and chloride were not significantly (P˃0.05) affected by BACM. It was concluded that BACM is rich in several bioactive chemicals and could be used as an alternative to antibiotics without causing any deleterious effect on the health status of an animal once it is included up to 50 ml/liter

PHYTO-NUTRITIONAL PROFILES OF BROOM WEED (SIDA ACUTA) LEAF EXTRACT

Medicinal plants are abundant in phytochemicals that has significant therapeutic effects. They are relatively cheap, effective and safe in prolong use. This experiment was carried out to investigate the phyto-nutritional profile of broom weed (Sida acuta) leaf extract. Proximate analysis Sida acuta leaf indicated the presence of dry matter (91.88 %), crude protein (18.01 %), ash (9.73 %), crude fibre (6.24 %), ether extract (1.77 %) and energy (2760 Kcal/kg). Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, oxalate, phytate, alkaloids, terpenoids and glycosides at 0.82 %, 2.02 %, 4.25 %, 0.20 %, 0.17 %, 0.05 %, 0.23 %, 0.22 %, 0.95 % and 0.02 % respectively and the vitamin constituents are thiamine (0.33 mg/100g), ascorbic acid (30.17 mg/100g), riboflavin (0.05 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.79 mg/100g) and niacin (0.41 mg/100g). Mineral analysis showed that it contained calcium (127.6 mg/100g), phosphorus (78.6 mg/100g), potassium (31.6 mg/100g), magnesium (102.1 mg/100g), iron (2.14 mg/100g), manganese (0.60 mg/100g), copper (0.04 mg/100g) and zinc (1.75 mg/100g). Result on amino acid composition showed that they contained lysine (2.11 mg/100g), arginine (1.77 mg/100g), aspartic acid (2.13 mg/100g), threonine (1.85 mg/100g), histidine (4.71 mg/100g), serine (2.03 mg/100g), glycine (1.05 mg/100g), alanine (3.31 mg/100g), cystine (5.06 mg/100g), valine (0.88 mg/100g), leucine (2.04 mg/100g), phenyalanine (4.72 mg/100g), tyrosine (3.51 mg/100g), isoleucine (2.84 mg/100g), methionine (0.85 mg/100g) and proline (1.05 mg/100g). It was concluded that  Sida acuta leaf extract is rich in various nutrients and phytochemicals conferring it the ability to perform multiple biological activities and as a natural alternative to antibiotics.&nbsp