Monechma ciliatum leaves are widely used as hay for animal nutrition and in traditional medicine for treatment of various ailments. The leaves were analyzed for proximate, minerals and anti-nutritional content using standard analytical methods. The results showed that the leaves contain moisture (84.09±0.81%), ash (14.00±0.50%), crude protein (5.34±0.15%), crude lipid (4.14±0.29%), crude fibre (3.02±0.29%), available carbohydrate (73.50±0.51%), and calorific value (352.63±1.42 kJ/100g). The mineral analysis of the leaves (mg/100g) revealed the presence: sodium (367.61±3.18 mg/100g), potassium (931.59±10.70 mg/100g), magnesium (213.77±2.31 mg/100g), calcium (2444.60±43.70 mg/100g), phosphorus (10.99±0.12 mg/100g), copper (1.19±0.39 mg/100g), iron (73.03±1.65 mg/100g), manganese (5.33±0.25 mg/100g), zinc (4.74±0.17 mg/100 g), and chromium (2.93±0.59 mg/100g). It also contains oxalate, tannins and phytic acid as anti-nutrients. The study showed that the leaves of M. ciliatum contain substantial levels of nutrient which could be useful in animal diet, with considerably low levels of anti-nutritional content which is below established toxic level.
