Authors : M.O. Ezekwe, Q.E. Nyoka, S.A. Besong and P.E. Igbokwe
Abstract: Purslane (Portulaca sp.), a vegetable known to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins was fed to young growing pigs to assess carcass and serum characteristics. The pigs were allotted into three groups: control CD, purslane+cholesterol CD-C-P) and cholesterol (CD-C). Purslane plus cholesterol group received a diet supplemented with 8% freeze-dried purslane leaves plus 0.5% added crystalline cholesterol. Cholesterol group received similar diet with only 0.5% added cholesterol while control group was fed the same basal diet of corn-soybean containing 23% crude protein. After 6 weeks of feeding trial, no significant differences were observed in body weight, liver, carcass, kidney, heart and gastrocnemius muscle weights. Feed intake, back fat, longissimus muscle, total lipids and protein content of gastrocnemius muscle and liver were not altered (p>0.05). Purslane fed group had a significant (p<0.05) increase in ash content of the muscle and a greater overall increase in serum High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol (HDL-C). There was a reduction (p<0.05) in total cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) in purslane group despite higher dietary cholesterol consumption. Serum total cholesterol was higher (p<0.05) in cholesterol group when compared to control group. Results suggest that purslane supplementation has hypocholesterolemic and/or hypolipidemic properties.
M.O. Ezekwe, Q.E. Nyoka, S.A. Besong and P.E. Igbokwe, 2011. Dietary Supplements of Freeze-Dried Purslane Leaves Lower Serum Cholesterol in Growing Pigs. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 5: 27-33.