Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Increasing demand for protein, especially animal-based proteins and the large amounts of protein feed inputs required for production, has largely driven the research on Anabaena azolla (AZ) as an animal feed. Overall, AZ appears to be a prospective protein source in fish production, as well as aquaculture. The Proximate, Mineral, Phytochemical and Vitamin composition of cultured AZ was determined. The cultured samples were grouped into four as follows T₁ was the Control, and group T₂, T₃, and T₄ was treated every 24 hours with 2 mg/L urea and 40 mg Sodium bicarbonate. In the proximate analysis the T₄ group has significantly high percentage moisture content (1.73%) followed by T₃, T₂ and T₁ respectively when compared at (p≤ 0.05). The mineral composition shows significant increase in the Na composition of the T₄ (778.00 Mg/Kg) and T₃ (775.21 Mg/Kg) (groups followed by T₂ 730.30 Mg/Kg) group at (p≤ 0.05). The K component of T₄ (303.40 Mg/Kg) group is significantly higher than other treated groups. There is no significant difference in the composition of T₁ (159.20 Mg/Kg) and T₂ (177.40) Mg composition at (p≤ 0.05). The Ca content is significantly high in increasing other (T₁ (304.20 Mg/Kg) to T₄ (330.50 Mg/Kg) groups) at (p≤ 0.05). There is no significant difference in the Fe and P component of T₃ (17.60 Mg/Kg & 410.49 Mg/Kg) and T₄ (18.00 Mg/Kg & 427.50 Mg/Kg) as well as T₂ (15.30Mg & 390.50 Mg/Kg) and T₁ (14.00 Mg/Kg & 348.15 Mg/Kg) at (p≤ 0.05). The Zn and Cu composition of T^₄ (5.15 Mg/Kg & 0.88 Mg/Kg) is significantly high followed by T₃, (4.77 Mg/Kg & 0.75 Mg/Kg) T₂, (4.19 Mg/Kg & 0.53 Mg/Kg) and T₁ (3.88 Mg/Kg & 0.39 Mg/Kg) at (p≤ 0.05) respectively. The Phyto-analysis reveals no significant difference in T₂ to T₄ groups. The T₄ (80.40 Mg of GAE/g of sample) has the highest Total phenol properties followed by T₃, 53.25 Mg of GAE/g of sample) T₂ (36.49 Mg of GAE/g of sample) and T₁ (15.45 Mg of GAE/g of sample) at (p≤ 0.05). T₃ (10.58 Mg of GAE/g of sample) and T₄ (12.90 Mg of GAE/g of sample) group significantly poses high Flavonoid component at (p≤ 0.05). The T₄ (2.06 Mg of DE/g of sample) group significantly poses high Saponin content followed by T3 (1.89 Mg of DE/g of sample) and T₂ (1.52 Mg of DE/g of sample) at (p≤ 0.05). There is significantly high percentage alkaloid in T₄. (0.11% Alkaloid). The cardiac glycoside value is significantly high in T₄ (2.25 Cardiac glycoside Mg Securida side /g of sample) groups at (p≤ 0.05). The Vitamin compositions shows no significant difference in vitamin A component in T₁ (85.40) and T₂ (99.16) and also, T₃ (128.70) and T4 (133.00) respectively at (p≤ 0.05). There is no significant difference in Vitamin C composition of T₄ (15.70) and T3 (14.90) as well as T₂ (12.74) and T₁ (12.60) respectively at (p≤ 0.05). The AZ when treated with other substances existing in either organic or inorganic nature is proven to be rich in essential nutrients required for normal growth of fishes and other aquatic animals. Hence, the T4 should be considered as the most potent sample treated with AZ. As a result of these properties, it is required that the biochemical and in vivo antioxidant capacity of these treatments should be further investigated.