Diversity of alternative food plants traded in the Kranggan Mas Traditional Market, Bekasi District, West Java Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The market is the main place for buying and selling alternative food plants and its rich in local wisdom. This study aims to explain the diversity of alternative food plant that are traded in the traditional market of Kranggan Mas, Bekasi District and their potential as healthy food ingredients. The research was conducted with an ethnobotanical approach with surveys, interviews and participations observation. The respondents were all traders who traded alternative food plants. The data was qualitative analysis includes grouping plants based on benefits, families, and parts used. A total of 12 species belonging10 genera and 8 families of plants as alternative food are traded in the Kranggan Mas traditional market. A total of 7 species of food are available every day and 4 species are available seasonally. The part of used are tuber (82%) and fruits (18%). Dioscorea alata and Artocarpus altilis are foodstuff ingredients that are still very potential to be developed and cultivated because both species are easy to find in the surrounding environment and its uses as shade and living fence. The Dioscorea alata has compounds dioscorine which has activity to reduce hypertension, so that its recommended for postmenopausal women.