Sterculia foetida de-oiled seed cake proximate, mineral and secondary metabolite composition vary across different landscapes of southern Gujarat, India

Abstract

We analysed variation in Sterculia foetida de-oiled seed cake (SFSC) proximate, minerals, secondary metabolites and volatilephytochemical composition across different landscapes of Gujarat, India. The sampling was done from eight landscapes fallingin three districts, namely Narmada (lies in Satpura mountain ranges and Narmada river basin), Navsari and Valsad (ArabianSea coast). Our findings revealed that de-oiled seed cake proximate attributes, namely crude protein (15.04), crude fiber (12.61),ether extract (6.38), acid insoluble ash (3.40), nitrogen-free extract (62.59) and total ash (3.31) varied significantly (p ≤0.05), exceptorganic matter (96.69), among the landscapes. Macro minerals, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, withoverall average percentage of 2.41, 0.43, 0.14 and 0.91%, respectively and micro minerals (ppm), namely zinc, iron, copper andmanganese composition exhibiting 218.44, 547.80, 9.44 and 156.24 ppm content, respectively, in SFSC also varied significantly.Findings also revealed that the percentage of secondary metabolites, namely total phenols (1.70) and tannins (1.10), variedsignificantly, excluding saponins content (0.78). Seed cake gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis revealed only twophytosterols, namely stigmasterol and β-sitosterol (51.73 and 48.21%, respectively). The study divulged that SFSC is a rich sourceof protein, contains good fat energy and soluble carbohydrates. Further, macro and micro mineral contents of seed cake werewell above the critical level and total phenols and tannin contents were well below the toxic limit. Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol,detected in seed cake, exhibit various beneficial properties. Hence, SFSC could be utilized as an alternate feed source for livestock.