Effects of Processing Methods on Phytochemical Compositions of Selected Plants Materials with Animal Nutrition Potentials

Plants contain significant amounts of bioactive compounds which have potential benefits to livestock and humans. This study evaluated the phytochemicals of some plant materials that have potential animal nutrition values. In this study, fresh samples (6 samples per each) of four leaves: Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata L.), African basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.), waterleaf (Talinum triangulare Jacq. Willd), and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. A. Gray) were air-dried (between 27 and 31 ^oC), oven-dried (at 65 ^oC) or freeze-dried (at -80 ^oC). The leaves were milled in a 1.0 mm sieve and the phytochemical contents of each leaf sample (in triplicates) were quantified. Phytochemicals quantified were flavonoids, tannins, beta carotene, and xanthophylls for each of the leaves. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance and significant means separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Flavonoids, tannins, and xanthophylls were found to be the highest (P < 0.05) in most air-dried leaf samples compared to oven-dried and freeze-dried ones. Flavonoids, tannins, beta carotene, and xanthophylls in the leaves showed that all leaf samples appear to have good potentials to be used as natural feed additives such as egg yolk colourants in laying chicken feeds. In-vivo studies using birds were recommended.