Study of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants of forage interest

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate local medicinal-forage plant species as sustainable resources for improving livestock nutrition and health in semi-arid regions. Based on an ethnobotanical survey conducted in Bordj Bou Arréridj, Algeria, the research documents traditional knowledge of wild forage plants. From this, six medicinal-forage species: Juniperus phoenicea, Ziziphus lotus, Artemisia herba-alba, Opuntia ficus-indica, Sinapis arvensis, and Atriplex canescens, were selected for comprehensive laboratory analysis of their phytochemical, antioxidant, and nutritional profiles. Qualitative phytochemical screening identified diverse secondary metabolites, including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and saponins, with distinct variations between 70% ethanol and aqueous extracts. Quantitative analysis revealed that J. phoenicea and Z. lotus had the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents using hydroalcoholic extraction (169.31 ± 3.88 mg GAE/g DW and 24.18 ± 0.22 mg QE/g DW, respectively), whereas O. ficus-indica showed superior extraction efficiency in aqueous media, yielding 190.12 mg GAE/g DW. Antioxidant assays (DPPH and FRAP) confirmed strong radical scavenging activity, especially in J. phoenicea and Z. lotus, suggesting potential for reducing oxidative stress in livestock. Proximate analysis showed moderate crude protein levels (6.8–8.2%), with O. ficus-indica and S. arvensis meeting maintenance requirements for ruminants. A. canescens was identified as a rich source of potassium (47.376 mg/g), crucial for electrolyte balance in ruminants. FT-IR and LC-MS/MS analyses confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acid, â-carotene, and thymol, known for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and metabolic benefits. These findings support the integration of these native medicinal-forage plants into livestock diets as functional supplements or feed additives to enhance nutrient uptake, immunity, and feeding efficiency, while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. Their resilience in arid conditions highlights their value in developing climate-adapted, resource-efficient animal production systems tailored to semi-arid environments.