Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Alexandra LUPU, Margareta OLTEANU, Arabela UNTEA, Iulia VĂRZARU, Mariana ROPOTĂ
Phytoadditives are used in animal nutrition for prevention and treatment of potential disease, as antioxidants and digestion stimulants. Three medicinal plants: mint (Mentha longifolia), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and white willow bark (Salix alba)) were analysed for their proximate composition, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids concentrations. The results revealed an important concentration of crude protein in menthe and fennel (20.72% and 18.89%), while fennel seeds have significant quantities of crude fiber (27.31%). White willow bark have a low content in crude protein (0.18%) and in crude fat (0.01%). Mint is good source of fatty acids with significant quantities of ω3 and a ω3/ω6 ratio below 1. The medicinal plants investigated are good sources of minerals, higher concentrations was found in menthe regarding concentration in Fe (1408.98 ppm), Mn (106.91 ppm) and Ca (1.50%). The results indicated important values of essential amino acids in mint and fennel (9.036 and 7.655 g/100g DM) and semi-essential amino acids (2.891 and 2.986 g/100 g DM). The importance of chemical constituents was evaluated with respect to the role of these plants in animal nutrition.
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