Nutrient evaluation of Couroupita guianensis fruits and flowers and effect of feeding Couroupita guianensis flowers on growth and haemato - biochemical parameters in Wistar rats

Abstract

A study was undertaken to access the nutritive value of fruits and flowers of cannon ball tree (Couroupita guianensis Aubl.) harvested from different trees at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur. The samples were oven dried at 100ºC until constant weight was obtained for dry matter determination. The dried samples were ground and subjected to proximate analysis. Results showed that Couroupita guianensis fruit and flowers contain moderate crude protein, nitrogen free extract and total ash. For animal experimentation fifteen healthy Wistar rats of three weeks of age were selected and divided into three groups of five each and allotted randomly to three experimental treatments T 1 (control), T 2 (T1 + 1% Couroupita guianensis flower (CGF) on dry matter basis), T 3 (T1 + 2% CGF on dry matter basis). All the experimental animals were fed with feed containing 24% CP and 3000 kcal/kg energy and were fed as per NRC standard. Feeding trial was conducted for a period of 30 days. The results showed that dry matter intake and body weight of animals were similar among the groups. Haemato-biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin, total protein and plasma glucose were similar among the groups whereas the triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly lower in CGF supplemented group.