REVIEW OF SELECTED TRACE ELEMENTS CONTAINED IN TROPICAL MEDICINAL PLANTS UTILISED IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Abstract

The use of different parts of plants as nutraceuticals to boost animal productivity is on the rise because of the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal diets, and the presumption that medicinal plants have no adverse effects on animals. Analytical studies have shown that tropical plants are rich sources of beneficial phytochemicals and essential nutrients with minimal concentrations of anti-nutrients. However, most of the research on tropical medicinal plants is focused on their phytochemical with less attention given to their trace element composition and concentration. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the trace element content of tropical medicinal plants is essential in maximising their use in livestock production. Moreso, published data on trace mineral values of tropical medicinal plants used in animal production are fragmented in the literature, making it difficult to use this important information in the decision-making process. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to condense evidence on the manganese, zinc, copper, and iron content of some tropical plants used in animal production as feedstuffs or to treat a variety of ailments, as well as factors that affect their uptake and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. This paper will also review the roles of trace minerals in enzyme systems and performance indicators of animals on dietary trace element salt supplementation.