Abstract
In Nagaland ~70% of population lives in rural areas and depends on forest products for livelihood. Being part of the biodiversity hotspot, state is rich in biodiversity. The present study was an attempt made to understand the nutritional properties of 22 popular underutilized edible plants (UEP) Kohima, Phek, Tuensang districts. Results revealed moisture content of 22 studied plants ranged between 4.8 to 88.15 g/100g, while protein content varied between 0.00269 - 0.773 g/100g with highest in Terminalia chebula (0.773 g/100g) fruit while lowest protein content was in Setaria italica (0.00269 g/100g). Total carbohydrate content was between 0.198 - 5.212 g/100g with highest in Setaria italica (5.212 g/100g) and lowest in Juglans regia (0.198 g/100g). Of the 22 samples, maximum antioxidant activity was in Terminalia chebula fruits (37.49 μg/ml) followed by Clerodendrum glandulosum (65.29 μg/ml) leaves, Phyllanthus emblica (79.08 μg/ml) fruits against Trolox (96.89 μg/ml). Highest total phenol content (TPC) was recorded in Terminalia chebula (53.11 mg GAE/g) and Rhus chinensis (43.99 mg GAE/g) while in other 20 crops the values varied from 0.09 - 8.44 mg GAE/g. Total flavonoid content (TFC) varied between 0.004 - 43.67 mg QE/g with clerodendrum glandulosum (43.67 mg QE/g) and Terminalia chebula (27.78 mg QE/g) were found to be highest among the 22 plant samples. Findings suggest that these underutilized edible plants should be popularized as they can contribute to nutritional support to different region of the state for health improvement and cultivated them commercially to help and develop various value added local product to improve the livelihood status of the rural population and also add to the economy of the state and region.
Highlights
Underutilized edible plants are under exploited of its potential for contributing to food security, income generation and environmental services [1]; they are locally abundant instead of globally, lack scientific knowledge concerning their physiological, agronomic and ecological properties and have a limited current use relative to their economic potential
Results revealed moisture content of 22 studied plants ranged between 4.8 to 88.15 g/100g, while protein content varied between 0.00269 - 0.773 g/100g with highest in Terminalia chebula (0.773 g/100g) fruit while lowest protein content was in Setaria italica (0.00269 g/100g)
The moisture content of Spondias pinnata, Phyllanthus emblica, Setaria italica, Ficus auriculata and Ficus semicordata in the present investigation are in agreement with the reports of Khomdram [32] [33], while moisture content of Hodgsonia macrocarpa and Lasia spinosa were lesser with the reports of Sundriyal and Sundriyal [34]
Summary
Underutilized edible plants are under exploited of its potential for contributing to food security (nutritional/medicinal), income generation and environmental services [1]; they are locally abundant instead of globally, lack scientific knowledge concerning their physiological, agronomic and ecological properties and have a limited current use relative to their economic potential They have the potential to fight against poverty and starvation faced by many developing countries and can help promote crop diversification to encounter such problems and improve the rural economy [2] [3]. Data on epidemiological and in vitro studies strongly suggest that foods containing phytochemicals with anti-oxidation potential have strong protective effects against
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