A Systematic Analysis of Nutritional and Mineral Composition and Toxicity in <i>Acacia</i> Species Leaves
Soraia I. Pedro | Joana Gonçalves | Carmo Horta | José C. Gonçalves | Jorge Gominho | Eugenia Gallardo | Ofélia Anjos
In the present study, the nutritive composition and mineral content of the leaves of eight species of <i>Acacia</i> trees were evaluated to assess their potential for different purposes, such as food resources for ruminants and mineral sources in soils. Caco-2 cells were employed to assess cytotoxicity, revealing that the extracts exhibited no cytotoxic effects after cellular incubation, suggesting their suitability as an alternative animal feed. The leaves proved to be a promising source of protein and fiber, offering an alternative to meet the needs of ruminants. The protein content differed among species, ranging from 18.96% in <i>A. cyclops</i> to 14.04% in <i>A. melanoxylon</i>. Similarly, fiber content varied from 35.52% in <i>A. melanoxylon</i> to 16.43% in <i>A. cyclops</i>. The species displayed moderate to high levels of minerals, particularly concentrations of Ca, P, and K. These values varied among species, ranging from 8452.90 to 28,465.31 mg/kg DM for Ca, 309.61 to 1293.82 mg/kg DM for P, and 5557.24 to 11,475.85 mg/kg DM for K, respectively. Each species displayed a distinct profile regarding the analyzed parameters, suggesting varied potential for their respective use. Additionally, vibrational spectroscopy analysis proved to be a highly valuable and dependable method for distinguishing between species.
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