phytochemical studies on mangrove and the possibility of using it as fodder

Abstract EN

Chemical composition of two mangrove species (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata) for leaves, stem and root were studied including proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and metals.

The objectives is to examine the possibility of using the plant as part of the conventional feed used in fish or other farms.

The study also describes fish (T.

aurea) nutrition experiments using mangrove leaves as part of the diet.

The dietary compos-ition was made in view of the results of the chemical and calorific analysis of plant parts.

Results of analysis have, in general, pointed out to relatively higher contents of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids in the mangrove leaves compared to other parts of the plant.

Although the experiments gave nutritionally negative results (as expected) with respect to mangrove-con-taining diet as compared to the control (commercial) diet, there were no in-dications of biologically adverse effects on the feeder.

It has been suggested that the reason for this result may be attributed to tough cell walls of the mangrove leaves, or to the presence of enzymatic and metabolic inhibitors within the leaves.