ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted to determine yield, proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of leaf protein concentrates (LPC) and bagasse obtained from plantain leaves from three different location. The process of extraction was done using heat coagulation then the leaf protein concentrates and bagasse obtained were analysed for their phytochemical compositions and alkaloids, tannins, flavanoids, phenol and saponin were found to be present. The yield of LPC obtained was statistically (p<0.05) significant between each locations: A yielded 2.74%, B yielded 3.74%, and C yielded 4.51%. The proximate analysis reveals that the leaf protein concentrate extracted from plantain leaves demonstrates a substantial crude protein content, typically ranging between 25-27% in each location. Fat extract obtained from LPC in location A 4.03%, location B, 2.91% and location C 2.42%, with location A varying significantly from location B and C. Ash content in the LPC from different location had non significant values. The nitrogen free extract (NFE) which comprises of all soluble carbohydrates and other digestible and easily utilizable nitrogenous substances was the second most abundant components in the LPC and bagasse of all locations. From analysing the mineral content, the LPC from three different locations showed relatively high levels of calcium (location A 125.9, B 130.5, C 132.3mg/kg), magnesium (A 63.70mg/kg, B 54.70mg/kg, C 54.90mg/kg), sodium (location A 256.9mg/kg, B 292.0mg/kg, C 301.8mg/kg), potassium (location A 85.20mg/kg, B 82.64mg/kg, 83.38mg/kg) phosphorus (location A 44.33mg/kg, B 54.05mg/kg, C 53.38mg/kg), iron (location A 7.800mg/kg, location B 7.733mg/kg, location C 8.103mg/kg), manganese (location A 1.700, B 2.110, C 1.717mg/kg). The results indicated that if the leaves are properly exploited and processed, they could be a high quality and cheap sources of protein and minerals for livestock.
