PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF Thaumatococcus danielli (BENTH) LEAF WASTE COLLECTED IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Thaumatococcus daniellii, commonly known as the miracle plant or sweet prayer plant, is widely used in Nigeria for wrapping traditional foods such as rice, moi-moi and agidi, leading to the generation of substantial leaf waste. The discarded leaves, if properly analysed for nutrient could serve as a potential resource for animal feed formulation, organic fertilizer, or biodegradable packaging materials. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the proximate and mineral composition of Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf wastes collected from rice and moi-moi wrapping in Benin City, Nigeria. Fresh leaf wastes were collected, air-dried, milled, and analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions using standard analytical procedures. The proximate analysis revealed appreciable levels of crude protein (18-23%), crude fibre (21-26%), and carbohydrate (28-34%), with moderate lipid and ash contents (6.67-6.83%). The mineral analysis showed significant amounts of essential nutrients such as Calcium (3.313_4.168mg/kg), Potassium (0.129_0.008 mg/kg), magnesium (1.737_0.019 mg/kg), phosphorus (2.263_0.147 mg/kg) and iron (0.270_0.215 mg/kg). These findings indicate that the leaf wastes from rice and moi-moi wrapping are rich in proximate and mineral nutrients that can support both nutritional application for livestock. The study concludes that Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf wastes, often considered agricultural waste could be
explored as an alternative raw material in feed production. This would not only promote environmental sustainability but also enhance economic value through waste resource utilization.