Edible plants in the Basellaceae family as potential supplemental functional feed ingredients for monogastric animals

An integrative review of the existing literature surrounding plants in the Basellaceae family was conducted. The major cultivated species of this family, Basella alba ( B. alba ), Ullucus tuberosus ( U. tuberosus ), and Anredera cordifolia ( A. cordifolia ), were evaluated as potential functional feed ingredients that can diversify livestock feeding strategies and address production challenges within the Neotropics. Utilizing alternative plant species as functional feed supplements can remediate challenges to livestock production such as overreliance on imported feed ingredients, antibacterial resistance, and competition between human and animal food sources. As such, this review summarised the nutraceutical properties of the identified plant species and correlated these findings with their potential to advance Neotropical livestock production. Fifty-eight journal articles were reviewed in this paper. The results yielded a taxonomic outline of 19 plant species in the Basellaceae family, followed by a summary of the phytochemical and nutritional profiles of the three main species. The functional food attributes associated with the bioactive compounds of each species were also outlined. Finally, the potential of each species in monogastric animal feeding and nutrition was discussed at length, relating its application to current challenges of the livestock industry. The literature suggests that all species contain notable phytochemical and medicinal attributes. The feasibility of B. alba in regional livestock feeding is great; however, U. tuberosus is limited by its climatic condition requirements. Anredera cordifolia holds potential as an anti-inflammatory supplement. Species of the Basellaceae family provide several advantages for creating efficient, diverse, and sustainable livestock feeding strategies in the Neotropics.