Clergé Tchiegang

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) kernel powder supplementation on the digestibility of feed chemical components and the composition of caecal microbiota in guinea pig. One hundred and thirty guinea pigs were randomly assigned to four groups. For 27 days, the animals were fed once daily with either a standard control diet (complete concentrate) or a concentrated mixture with 2.5, 5 or 7.5% (w/w) neem kernel powder. The results showed a significant increase in feed intake and digestibility with the rate of kernel incorporation. In the caeca content, the log count of lactic acid bacteria and Clostridium butyricum increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with the supplementation level whereas Escherichia coli count decreased. The results suggest that neem kernel powder could be used as a phytogenic supplement for guinea pigs, enhancing both nutrient digestibility and gut microbiota quality.

Tetracarpidium conophorum is known in the littoral and the western Cameroon as kaso or ngak and serves as an edible nut eaten between meals. The physicochemical characteristics, the fatty acids and the triacylglycerols (TG) of T. conophorum nut oil (Type 1 and Type 2) from the southern continental low lands were studied. The oil content varied between 55.75 and 61.62%. The iodine value (180–182), saponification value (175–176) and nitrogen (8.08–8.78) were similar. Ashes varied between 8.40 and 9.68%. The main fatty acid of the golden yellow was linolenic acid (69.47–70.39%) as determined by capillary gas chromatographic analysis. The triacylglycerol profil obtained by reversed phase liquid chromatography showed 10 TG with three major ones identified as