Resumen

PIZZANI, Pablo et al. Composición Fitoquímica y Nutricional de Algunos Frutos de Árboles de Interés Forrajero de Los Llanos Centrales de Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Vet. [online]. 2006, vol.47, n.2, pp.105-113. ISSN 0258-6576.

The phytochemical and nutritional composition of some fruits of forage trees from the Venezuelan Central Plains were evaluated. The following fruits were studied: Samán (Pithecellobium saman), Carocaro (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), Cují hediondo (Acacia macracantha), Cañafistolillo (Senna otomaria), Caruto (Genipa americana), Dividive (Caesalpinia coriaria), Granadillo (Caesalpinia granadillo), Guamacho (Pereskia guamacho), Tiamo (Acacia glomerosa), Guásimo (Guazuma ulmifolia), Merecure (Licania pyrifolia), Cují blanco (Prosopis juliflora). The presence of 12 secondary metabolites was determined by phytochemistry screening. Total phenols (TF), flavonoids (Flav), tannins that precipitate proteins (TPP), condensed tannins (CT), steroids (Ster), quinons (Quin), cumarins (Cum), non-proteic aminoacids (NPAA), alkaloids (Alk), saponins (Sap), triterpenes (Trip), and proanthocyanidines (Proantc) were analyzed. The presence of free aminoacids was detected in 75% of the fruits studied. 92% reacted positively to TPP. TF showed ample variation (P<0.05) that ranged from 0.46 to 16.28%. The highest TC values were found in Acacia macracantha (2.40%), Enterolobium cyclocarpum (1.18%), and Pithecellobium saman (1.01%), respectively. Qualitative results for Sap, showed great variability among species. The phyochemistry screening revealed that Pithecellobium saman and Enterolobium cyclocarpum contained considerable levels of Sap, which could cause digestive problems to ruminants. Alk were present in 75% of fruits studied. The Strds content ranked between 6.20-13% and significant differences were seen among the fruits evaluated. 91% of the fruits positively reacted to Cum. The different components of the chemical analysis showed crude protein values which ranked between 3.90 and 16%. Fiber content, expressed as FND and FAD, respectively, varied considerably (P<0.05) for the different fruits. Values for dry matter in vitro degradation (DMD), evaluated as ruminal liquor of sheep, oscillated between 45 and 90%. These results suggest that, of all the fruits studied, Licania pyrifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Genipa americana, and Prosopis juliflora, become the best sources of alternative feeding for ruminants due to the low to moderate content of total secondary metabolites in their biomass. Furthermore, they show excellent values for dry matter in vitro degradation.

Palabras clave : Forage fruits; screening phytochemistry; secondary metabolites; degradation,; rumen digestión; sheep; Guárico.