Caracterização bromatológica das folhas da Moringa oleifera Lam. e sua potencialidade na alimentação animal

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial tree of Indian origin, adaptable to the Brazilian semi-arid region, with high productivity in poor soils and has a high nutritional value. The plant stands out for its rapid growth rate and variety of uses, including animal feed. Amid rising input costs for post-pandemic feed, the search for efficient nutritional alternatives becomes crucial to reduce production costs. Moringa, due to its versatility and nutritional value, has stood out as a viable option to meet the needs of animals. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the nutritional and bromatological characteristics of Moringa planted in Três Marias, Minas Gerais and verify its potential as a functional ingredient. The contents of dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) from the flour of Moringa oleifera leaves. The observed values were compared with the values declared in other studies and the results of the laboratory analysis showed a variation when compared with other studies, since the chemical composition varies according to the maturity of the plant. In turn, the results indicate that the flour obtained is a source of dietary fiber and protein, with potential for use in functional foods and products.