Proximate and vitamin C analysis of wild edible plants consumed by Bodos of Assam, India

Abstract

Aim: The State of Assam is gifted with diverse flora including thousands of wild edible plants. The consumption of a large variety of wild plants by Bodos, an ethnic group and dominant inhabitant of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts of Assam of NorthEast India, is a common practice since time immemorial. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional values of wild edible plants consumed by the Bodos of this region. Materials and Methods: In this study, twelve wild edible plants viz. Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce, Stellaria media (L.), Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC., Cryptolepis sinensis (Lour) Merr., Polygonum perfoliatum L., Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC., Tetrastigma angustifolium (Roxb.), Antidesma acidum Retz., Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd.ex Schult., Eryngium foetidum L., Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng. and Enhydra fluctuans Lour. consumed by the Bodos were selected, scientifically identified and their proximate and vitamin C contents were determined using standard food analysis methods. Results: Proximate compositions were presented and the vitamin C content was found highest in T. angustifolium (79.06 ± 0.02 mg) and lowest in A. acidum (11.39 ± 0.0002 mg). All the results were based on 100 g fresh weight of the sample. Conclusion: In the present study, all the twelve plants have shown variable values of proximate composition and vitamin C contents. These plants could be a promising alternate food sources which are easily available, affordable and could provide several health benefits on consumption.

Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Trace Element Analysis of Anthelmintic Plants of North-East India

“…Similarly, MeEf showed higher protein content (310.40±11.44 µg/mg extract) among all the tested plants. Recent studies by Swargiary et al [30] and Narzary et al [31] also revealed a similar range of carbohydrate and protein content in the wild edible plants. Quantitative study of TPC showed highest concentration in MeEf (245.66±9.68 µg/mg extract) followed by MeAc (122.41±8.58 µg/mg extract), MeHr (116.40±3.53 µg/mg extract) and MeCd (63.60±5.77 µg/mg extract), respectively.…”

Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng.: Traditional and Commercial Uses and Phytochemical and Pharmacological Significance in the African and Indian Subcontinent

“…Leaves and twigs of Lippia javanica are used as food additives in Kenya [6] and leafy vegetable in India [12, 13]. Lippia javanica is popular as herbal tea, particularly in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe [7–11].…”

“…Multiple classes of phytochemicals including volatile and nonvolatile secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, iridoids, and triterpenes as well as several minerals, have been identified from L. javanica [1–5, 7, 13, 27, 73, 78, 81, 83–86, 88–94, 120, 123, 125–127]. Leaves, flowers, and twigs of L. javanica have a wide variety of the so-called classic nutrients, such as minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins (Table 2).…”

“…Lippia javanica occurs naturally in central, eastern, and southern Africa (Figure 2) and has also been recorded in the tropical Indian subcontinent [12, 13, 23, 39, 47, 61]. In sub-Saharan Africa, the species is native to Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe.…”

Determination of Nutritional Composition of Some Selected Fishes from Hel River of North-East India

“…The key nutrients of life are proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The food rich in proteins, fats and carbohydrates supplies more energy which is responsible for doing various activities in our daily life [12,26].…”