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Home▶ Journals▶ Indian Journal of Agroforestry▶Archive▶Vol. 27 No. 2 (2025)▶Melia Dubia Leaf Fodder Has Higher Volatile Phytochemicals…
Print ISSN 0972-0715 · Online ISSN 2456-6489
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Melia Dubia Leaf Fodder Has Higher Volatile Phytochemicals during Winter: A Case Study Across Satpura and Northern Western Ghats Mountain Ranges, India

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S S Malek — Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396450, Gujarat
N S Thakur — Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396450, Gujarat
Susheel Singh — Pesticide Residue Chemistry, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396450, Gujarat
R P Gunaga — Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari- 396450, Gujarat
V R Patel — Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science & animal Husbandry (Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar), Navsari Campus, Navsari-396450, Gujarat
Published 22 Oct 2026 Vol. 27 No. 2 (2025), pp. 44-55 ● Open access
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Abstract

Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of M. dubia leaf elucidated variation in volatile chemical compounds across provenances and seasons. In total, an array of 93 volatile phytochemical compounds was revealed. Winter season leaf samples contained maximum (55) compounds as compared to summer (35). Corroboration of detected chemical compounds with available literature divulged that similar compounds occur in other species of same and other families as well and have one or the other beneficial biological activities. The presence of volatile compounds in M. dubia leaf could be a rich source antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activity etc. And leaf feeding to small ruminants and livestock may have many biological benefits in terms of favored growth performance, production quality, and enhanced endogenous antioxidant systems.

KeywordsMelia dubiaLeaf fodderVolatile compoundsPhytochemicalsAntioxidant
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