A comprehensive analysis of wild edible fruits from the Rangayyanadurga four-horned antelope wildlife sanctuary

Abstract

Fruits play a primary role in the diet and several studies based on health report the importance of fruits because of their nutritional components that serve a protective role against many diseases. The most prevalent non-timber forest products and significant sources of food and medicine are wild edible fruits (WEFs). The WEFs must greet potential sources of crucial nutrients majorly of children and old age people suffering from malnutrition. The Rangayyanadurga Four-Horned Antelope (FHA) wildlife sanctuary, situated in Jagalur, of central Karnataka, India, harbours many indigenous, unexploited, edible, and unfamiliar fruits, which are important sources of income and food for rural communities. These fruits play a crucial role in health care and they contain several phytochemicals like, flavonoids, polyphenols, glycoside, tannins, essential oils, malic acid, and oleanolic acid. The wild edible fruits have health benefits such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-hypolipidemic, antiscorbutic, antioxidant, neuroprotective and piles curing properties. The research in this review focuses on 15 edible wild fruit species from 11 families that have been spotted in the Rangayyanadurga Sanctuary and was tabulated with botanical name, mode of consumption, bioactive compounds and biological effects. The more signified families are Rutaceae, Rubiaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae, Boraginaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Myrtaceae, Cactaceae and Rhamnaceae. The findings pointed to the need for additional research into the nutritional composition, environmental impact, and therapeutic properties of wild edible species as well as the potential benefits of the different WEF types identified here as neuroprotective agents.