Background: The nutritional and antinutritional contents of Albizia lebbeck seed were investigated. Levels of nutrients like the crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash, mineral and antinutrients like phytate, cyanide, oxalate, saponin, and tannins were determined.
Results: The results indicated a high protein level of 27.30 ± 0.001, ether extract of 7.50 ± 0.10, crude fibre of 38.50 ± 0.01, ash content of 4.20 ± 0.10 and NFE (carbohydrate bydifference) content of 19.40 ± 0.00. Minerals like magnesium, 7.47 ± 0.07ppm, Fe, 2.80 ± 0.002 ppm, Cu, 1.83 ± 0.001 ppm and Se, 4.886 ± 1.03 ppm. The antinutrients discovered include phytate,2.91 mol/kg, cyanide, 0.338 mg/kg, oxalate, 0.0012mg/100g and saponin, 90.00mg/100g. However, the presence of tannins was not detected.
Conclusion: It is considered that Albizia lebbeck could be a very good source of protein and minerals in animal feeds, if well processed, to reduce or eliminate the antinutritional factors. The high saponin content also shows that it could be a potent aphrodisiac
