In vitro and in vivo chemical characterization of kigelia africana, mimusops zeyheri, terminalia sericea and ximenia caffra nuts and nut meals
Date
2013-02-01
Authors
Chivandi, Eliton
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Soyabean meal (SBM), the major protein source in feeds in sub-Saharan Africa, is
in short supply. The shortage is a major constraint to intensified animal
production to meet increased demand hence the dire need to search for
alternatives. Kigelia africana, Mumisops zeyheri, Terminalia sericea and Ximenia
caffra are indigenous fruit bearing trees (IFBTs) whose seeds’ potential as
alternative protein sources in feeds were evaluated. The evaluation consisted of an
initial physico-chemical characterization of the seeds followed by determining in
vitro the safety of seed oils on cell lines. Based on the physico-chemical and in
vitro evaluation, the most suitable seed was selected, defatted and its meal used as
a dietary substitute to SBM in the in vivo trials using adult and weanling male
Sprague Dawley rats.
The T. sericea seed yield was not viable. Chemically K. africana and X. caffra
seed demonstrated potential as protein sources in feeds. M. zeyheri seed
demonstrated potential as an energy source. The IFBTs seeds oil yield surpassed
that of some traditional oilseed crops. Oleic and linoleic acid were the major fatty
acids contained in the oils. In vitro, K. africana, M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils
suppressed Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation without causing cell death.
X. caffra seed, deemed the most suitable, was defatted and its seed meal used in
the in vivo trials. In mature rats, dietary substitution of SBM with the defatted X. caffra seed meal did not affect (P > 0.05) dry matter intake, apparent digestibility
of nutrients and nitrogen absorption and retention. In weanling rats, the defatted
X. caffra seed meal had no effect on termination (body mass at the end of the
feeding trial) and empty carcass mass and linear growth of the rats. Metabolic
substrate storage, fasting blood glucose concentration and the general health
profile of the growing rats were not altered by dietary X. caffra seed meal. The
defatted X. caffra seed meal increased the mass of the stomach and small intestine
(P = 0.0071; P = 0.0001) of rats on the test diet where a 100% dietary crude
protein (CP) from SBM was substituted by CP from the defatted X. caffra seed
meal.
Defatted X. caffra seed meal could substitute SBM in rat and possibly
monogastrics feeds without compromising digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth
and general health.