Chemical Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and in vitro Digestibility of Crataegus azarolus Leaves and Fruits in Goats

Introduction In the aim to investigate the possible influence the variation of the food composition on ruminant performances, several approaches was based on medicinal plants for their beneficial effects on digestibility. Our study was oriented to determine the phytochemical screening, the antioxidant activity, and the in vitro digestibility of Crataegus azarolus leaves (CALAE) and berries (CABAE) collected from the Ain Draham region, which is located in the northwest of Tunisia.Methods Colorimetric analyses were used for the quantification of phenolic compounds, and the antioxidant activity of azerole extracts was evaluated using DPPH-free radical scavenging activity. The in vitro ruminal fermentation was determined using the gas production method.Results Leaves contained the highest levels of mineral matter, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and nitrogen matter (TNM) when compared to those of berries. Furthermore, the DPPH assay showed that Crataegus azarolus aqueous extracts were characterized by a high antioxidant capacity, which is proportional to total phenolic concentrations. The in vitro digestibility evaluation demonstrates a significant variation in each ruminal parameter, and the highest levels of gas production, metabolizable energy (ME), and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were observed in leaves.Conclusion Data showed that azerole berries and leaves contained an important level of total fiber, nutrients, and mineral matter. The phytochemical analyses demonstrated a strong correlation between the richness of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant capacity. Indeed, yellow azerole berries and leaves can be recommended as an additive in goat feed rations to improve the animals' quality.