Wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh: Ethnomedicinal and nutritional importance

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proximate composition and mineral content in the edible parts of six wild edible plants e.g. Phyllostachys mannii, Litsea cubeba, Polygonum chinense, Musa cheesmanii, Musa flaviflora and Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus consumed by the different tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The proximate parameters like ash, moisture, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate, energy content, minerals viz. sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, and toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury were evaluated in the selected wild edible plants using standard food analysis techniques. The present study disclosed that for different plant species, the crude fat content ranged between 0.83±0.03–6.36±0.29%. The crude protein content was determined high among the leaves of P. thrysiflorus (16.22±0.06%) and in the edible parts of M. flaviflora (10.55±0.05%). The carbohydrate content was also found highest in the leaves of P. thrysiflorus (31.96±0.10%). The energy content ranged from 64.32±2.73–200.25±0.95 kcal/100g in the various wild edible plants. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plants under study, potassium was present in the highest quantity (10.87±0.22–44.96± 0.74 mg/g) followed by calcium (5.52±0.19–18.36±0.17 mg/g) and sodium (0.18±0.008–0.95±0.04 mg/g). The vegetables were also rich in micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium while the heavy metals Pb and Cr were detected in very low amount in all the vegetables. The heavy metals Cd and Hg were not detected in any vegetable. The outcome of investigation indicates that proximate composition, mineral and vitamin contents of these plants under investigation were richer than that of the commercial vegetables and could be used for the nutritional purpose. The present study also gives an account of ethno-botanies significance of the wild plants under investigation. These undomesticated palatable plants form an important constituent of traditional subsistence in Arunachal Pradesh.