Nutritional Evaluation of Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) Leaf Protein Concentrates (CLPC) as Alternative Protein Sources in Rat Assay

The nutritional potential of cassava leaf protein concentrate (CLPC) as an alternative protein source was investigated using rat as the test animal. Data on the rat growth assay showed that the weight gain of rats fed protein quality trial diets containing CLPC supplemented and unsupplemented with DL-methionine were negative and significantly lower (P<0.05) than the reference diet (6.39±0.11g) that contained pure protein (casein) as the sole source of protein. The feed intake values for all experimental diets were similar (P>0.05). The nitrogen retention value was highest (P<0.05) for the reference diet containing casein with a value of 0.27±0.09g. Other test diets had similar (P>0.05) nitrogen retention values. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) value of the reference diet (1.49±0.15) was also significantly different (P<0.05) from the other test diets which did not show any particular pattern with insignificant differences (P<0.05) across the various diets. The net protein ratio (NPR) was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the reference diet (casein diet). True digestibility (TD) value for the reference diet was distinctly higher (P<0.05) than that of any other diet. Other TD values were similar (P>0.05). The biological value (BV) of the reference diet (casein diet) was also significantly higher (P<0.05) than for other values. The other BV values showed a little variation but basically with insignificant differences (P>0.05). The net protein utilization (NPU) value for the reference casein diet was also significantly higher (P<0.05) than for the other experimental NPU values.