ABSTRACT

African nutmeg (Monodora myristica) was evaluated for its nutritional and preservative potentials. The nutrient potentials of the seed were characterized in terms of its proximate composition, gross energy, apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and true metabolizable energy (TMIE), mineral content, anti-nutritional factors, and essential oil content, while the preservative potentials were evaluated by looking at its antioxidative activities which include its peroxide value development, chelating ability, scavenging ability and reduction power. The apparent metabolizable energy and true metabolizable energy were determined using roosters. The peroxide values of different levels of concentration (0 ppm, 2000ppm, 4000ppm, 6000ppm, and 8000ppm) of seed extract on soya bean oil were determined for 4 weeks. The result showed that the seed contains crude protein (14.58%), crude fat (32.55%). crude fiber (28.51%). ash (2.45%), and nitrogen- free extract (21.91%). Gross energy value of the seed was 6.3 2kcal/g. The apparent metabolizable energy value was 3.77kca1/g and the true metabolizable energy value 3.82kca1/g. The seed was moderate in potassium (8.60mg/bOg), calcium (4.09mg/bOg), and phosphorus (2.13mg/bOg) but low in magnesium (O.59mg1100g) and sodium (O.17ing/bOog). The determined antinutritional factors (alkaloid — 6.6lmg/lOOg, tannin — 10.40mg/lOOg, and phytate — I' 5.95mg/bOg) were low while essential oil (myristicin — 1.34%) was appreciable. The peroxide values ranged from 8.30 to 22.87mEq/kg for the 0 ppm, 8.30 to 21.80mEq/kg for 2000 ppm, 8.30 Il to 2b.27mEcJkg for 4000 ppm, 8.30 to 20.53mEq/kg for 6000 ppm and 8.30 to X9.47nEqIkg for 8000 ppm within the four weeks. The scavenging value ranged from 39.80 to 87.80%, chelating values from 57.13 to 93.10%, while the reduction value raneed from 0.885 to 2.672 wiits at the different concentrations. These results showed that African nutmeg (Monodora niyi/siica) meal besides providing nutrients can serve as a preservative of oils in both feed and body cells of animals against oxidative damage.