Wild Edible Fruits Research Articles

English

In order to assess the diversity, regeneration and structure of wild edible fruit trees, a study was carried out in the Laf-Madjam forest reserve and its surroundings. A semi-structured interview with local residents and a floristic inventory of woody plants (8 transects of 1000 m × 20 m each) were carried out. 24 species were cited as being used by the local residents. A total of 2134 individuals subdivided into 69 species, 43 genera and 27 families were counted, including 448 edible fruit individuals divided into 25 species, 19 genera and 14 families. The latter with important IVIs are: Balanites aegyptiaca , Sclerocarya birrea , Ziziphus mauritiana and Hexalobus monopetalus. Diversity is medium in edible fruit trees (HSI=3.10 bits, E= 0.67). Fruit trees with individuals of diameter ≥ 21 cm are in the majority. Inverted "L" and bell-shaped gaits are observed. The regeneration rate of fruit trees is higher in Annona senegalensis , H. monopetalus , and B. aegyptiaca . The involvement of local people in the management of the reserve's fruit trees is important for sustainable management.   Key words : Edible fruits, Moutourwa, sustainable management, structure, phytodiversity.

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Properties of the Wild Edible Fruits of Tripura, Northeast India

Fruits that are rich in nutrients and have antioxidant properties are essentially required for human health. These fruits are quite demanding to use pharmaceutically to produce natural drugs. Tripura, a Northeast state of India, is abundant in wild edible fruits, the nutritional values of which have not yet been fully explored. The nutrient composition and antioxidant properties of 06 (six) wild edible fruits viz. Wild orange (Citrus macroptera), Chinese lard (Hodgsonia macrocarpa Cogn.), Madhabilata (Stixis suaveolens Roxb. Pierre), Wild small black Jamun (Syzygium assamicum), Indian coffee plum (Flacourtia jangomas Lour. Raeusch), and Gamboge (Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Robs) were explored and are reported in this paper. All the observations were statistically analyzed and properly presented here. The study reveals that wild orange (220.75 mg/100 g) and Indian coffee plum (223.25 mg/100 g) are vitamin C-rich fruits. Madhabilata has high protein content (0.744%), whereas Gamboge yields an energetic fruit (124.92 Kcal/100 g). The energy parameter has a good correlation with ash (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.68), TSS (r = 0.62), and protein (r = 0.83). Nutrient minerals (mg/100 g), in general, are found quite high in wild orange (Na, 170.4; K, 55.40; Mg, 61.53; Zn, 6.85; Cu, 6.25). There is a good correlation between Na and K (r = 0.58). Antioxidant activity (81.15 μmol/g) and metal chelating capacity (MCC) (39.45 mg/mL) are high in wild orange, and they have an excellent correlation (r = 0.97). It has quite a high value of total phenolic content (TPC) (303.89 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (TFC) (36.78 mg QE/g) as well. TPC and TFC have good correlations with antioxidant parameters (r = 0.81 with TPC and 0.86 with TFC). Chloride (4.35 mg/100 g), nitrate (0.639 μg/100 g), and As(III) (0.27 mg/100 g) contents are found high in Indian coffee plum, Madhabilata, and Wild black Jamun, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that total sugar, zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) are the important indicators to be given emphasis while studying the nutritional value of these minor fruits. Moreover, the results would provide a baseline database for the nutrient profile of these fruits as well as enhance awareness among the masses regarding the value of the fruit, which enhances and conserves the biodiversity of the forest area of Tripura.

Sustainable Use and Management of Wild Edible Fruit Plants: A Case Study in the Ulu Masen Protected Forest, West Aceh, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Wild edible fruit plant species (WEFs) are species that are not cultivated or domesticated but are available in their natural habitat, providing a readily available source of food, medicine, and economic value to the local people. In recent times, WEFs have been threatened by over-exploitation, land-use changes, and biodiversity loss. This study aims to (1) identify and document wild edible fruit plant species, (2) investigate the patterns of knowledge, use, and management of WEFs in the Ulu Masen protected area; and (3) assess threats to wild edible fruit plant species and recommend possible management scenarios for their conservation. The study was conducted in six villages of Pantai Ceuremen subdistrict, Southeast Aceh, Indonesia, namely Sikundo, Jambak, Canggai, Lawet, Pulo Tungoh, and Keutambang. The plant materials were randomly collected from the study area, while local knowledge was gathered through a semi-structured survey and in-depth interviews involving 209 respondents that were selected using random sampling. A total of 53 wild edible fruit plants from 30 genera and 21 families were found to be commonly used. Syzygium pycnanthum, Syzygium littorale, Syzygium polyanthum, Garcinia xanthochymus, Baccaurea polyneura, Flacourtia rukam, Sandoricum koetjape, and Baccaurea racemosa were the most important species for local communities in the study area. The WEFs in the study area is influenced by a variety of factors, primarily agricultural expansion, which means that conservation practices need to be improved through the implementation of management strategies, prioritizing species currently used by local communities. Management strategies based on traditional knowledge, such as community-based forest management systems (CBFMS) are being considered for future conservation, and they are also being implemented in other developing countries with similar circumstances.

A comparative study of nutrient composition, bioactive properties and phytochemical characteristics of Stauntonia obovatifoliola flesh and pericarp.

A comparative study was conducted among the flesh (SOF) and pericarp (SOP) of Stauntonia obovatifoliola, a wild edible fruit in China. The nutrient composition of both these tissues was firstly quantified, and liquid-liquid extraction was then used to separate their methanolic extracts to get petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and residual aqueous fractions, which were evaluated for their total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacities, and α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition abilities. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze their phytochemical composition. The results revealed the excellent nutritional properties of both SOF and SOP, especially SOP (total dietary fiber, 15.50 g/100 g; total amino acids, 0.80 g/100 g; vitamin C, 18.00 mg/100 g; Ca, 272.00 mg/kg; K, 402.00 mg/100 g). For both tissues, their ethyl acetate fractions showed the highest TPC (355.12 and 390.99 mg GAE/g DE) and TFC (306.58 and 298.48 mg RE/g DE). Surprisingly, the ethyl acetate fraction of SOP exhibited the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity with 1046.94 and 1298.64 mg Trolox/g, respectively, which were higher than that of controls Vc and BHT. In contrast, their chloroform fractions exhibited the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power (1903.05 and 1407.11 mg FeSO4/g DE) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (951.12 and 1510.21 mg Trolox/g DE). In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction of SOF displayed superior α-glucosidase inhibition ability with the IC50 value of 0.19 mg/mL, which was comparable to control acarbose. In comparison, the ethyl acetate fraction of SOP had the best acetylcholinesterase inhibition ability with the IC50 value of 0.47 mg/mL. The HPLC analysis results demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction of SOP showed significantly higher phenolic content, particularly for phenolic acids (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 8.00 ± 0.65 mg/g) and flavonoids (epicatechin, 28.63 ± 1.26 mg/g), as compared to other samples. The above results suggest that Stauntonia obovatifoliola, especially its pericarp, had excellent nutrient compositions, bioactive properties and phytochemical characteristics, and had the potential to be developed as natural functional food.

Folklore use of wild fruits by the Oraon tribe of Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Forests and trees are the major resources sustainably utilized by the tribals for their livelihood. The tribals communities have lived in and known the forests in an intimate manner and have also gathered information about possible use and conservation of forests and trees. In present times, however, the indigenous knowledge base that the tribals have gathered and preserved yet far has been endangered due to sociocultural hybridization as a result of modernization and globalization. This situation, hence, calls for an urgent need to device strategies to conserve tribal knowledge through various means. In this-respects, the present study attempts to survey, document and preserve the knowledge regarding the wild edible fruits consumed by Oraon tribes of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh and the Current status of the tribe concerning the interest towards the wild fruit collection, consumption and conservation. Methods: The study was undertaken during December 2019-July 2020. The information was obtained through semi-structured schedule. The importance of wild edible fruits as ethnomedicine was expressed through Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). Results: A total of 26 wild fruit species, considered by the Oraon tribe to have medical values and ability to impart health benefits have been reported in this study. The reported fruit species belongs to 16 different families. Moraceae was the dominant family amongst the reported fruit species, the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) value was 0.94 for Liver related problems followed by Inflammation (0.91), Pain and Skin related disease as (0.86).The most frequently used fruit species were Morus alba (0.86), followed by Syzygium cumini (0.84), Diospyros melanoxylon, Madhuca longifolia and Neolamarckia cadamba (0.82) each, Ficus religiosa and Ziziphus mauritiana (0.80) each based on Relative frequency of citation. Conclusions: Furthermore, the documentation of diverse therapeutic practices of wild fruit species by the Oraon and several other tribes shall support further pharmacological research to develop novel future generation drug molecules. Keywords: Dietary nutrition, Folklore uses, Indigenous technical knowledge, Wild edible fruits.

Wild Edible Small Fruits in Turkey and their Fruit Characteristics

Abstract Wild fruits are essential genetic resources for fruit breeding and have either been domesticated or used to introgress disease resistance and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. Numerous studies have previously described the health benefits of wild berry fruits and reported their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity. Turkey has a rich plant biodiversity thanks to its geographic location and encirclement by three seas, leading to a wide variety of climates. The great ecological diversity of the wild berry species in Turkey is a significant bio-gene pool that is vital to human life and can serve as a source of agricultural development in the future. This review aims to introduce some of the wild edible berry species naturally occurring in Turkey such as Morus spp., Hippophae rhamnoides L., Viburnum opulus L., Rubus idaeus L., Rubus fruticosus L., Sambucus nigra L., Vaccinium spp., Arbutus unedo L., Ribes spp., and Fragaria vesca L., and describe their distribution, uses, and fruit characteristics. Conservation of these wild fruit genetic resources is necessary for use in breeding for novel traits.

Evaluation of Nutritional Value, Antioxidant Activity, and Phenolic Content of Protium serratum Engl and Artocarpus chama Buch.-Ham, Wild Edible Fruits Available in Tripura, a North-Eastern State of India

Background:Protium serratum Engl (Indian red pear) and Artocarpus chama Buch.- Ham (wild jackfruit) are typical wild edible fruits that have a wide range of folk medicinal properties.Objectives:Our present study deals with the exploration of nutritional value, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content present in Protium serratum Engl and Artocarpus chama Buch.-Ham fruits.Methods:The soxhlet apparatus was used to extract crude samples. The quantitative analysis of the wild edible fruits was broadly done by proximate and ultimate analysis techniques.Results:The results showed that the moisture contents in P. serratum and A. chama Buch. are 78.53% and 74.23%, respectively. The obtained ash (8.59%), fiber (3.17%), total sugar (5.495 mg/100g), and fat (0.66%) contents are high in P. serratum. In contrast, A. chama Buch. has a high content of protein (0.52%). Vitamin C content is higher in P. serratum (550 mg/100g) than that in A. chama Buch. (350 mg/100g). The result shows that the Ca and Mg contents are higher in P. serratum compared to A. chama Buch. Indian red pear shows good antioxidant properties and has high total phenolic content as compared to wild jackfruit and some commercial fruits.Conclusion:The study establishes that further investigation must be done to determine the development of new products, processing, and preservation techniques so that two underutilized fruits can become a part of our regular dietary habits. By doing so, we can enrich the fruit basket of the country.

Local Health Traditions, Cultural Reflections and Ethno-taxonomical Information on Wild Edible Fruit Yielding Medicinal Plants in Melur Region of Madurai District, TamilNadu, India

Revitalization of local health traditions (RLHT) has become an inevitable aspect of human wellbeing in the post COVID era. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information on local health traditions and cultural reflections associate with the age old use of wild edible fruits (WEFs) from common plants in Melur Region of Madurai district, TamilNadu, India as the habit of consuming WEFs is quite common among people in this region and has not been completely abandoned in particular among the age old people. Information presented in this paper has been gathered from local people using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and interviews with questionnaires during the period from Apr 2021 to Mar 2022. As much as 29 informants were interviewed, among the informants 6 were local health-care practitioners (Vidiyars). Studies on the use of WEFs from common plants in Melur resulted in collection and documentation of information on a total of 34 ethnomedicinal plant species distributed across 20 families. Medicinal plants used by local people are listed with scientific name, family, local name, plant part(s) used, mode of consumption and preparation and medicinal uses. Data collected during the study clearly indicates that fresh parts of the plant (Fruit (Ripe/ Unripe)) were more preferred in general for the preparation of medicinal formulations by the local health practitioners. Documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure long term complications associated with diabetics, gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, poison bites and nervous disorders. Howsoever, results of this study is clear record to the claim that the local people still depend on medicinal plants to overcome situations like COVID pandemic as fruits from most of the plants documented serve as natural source of immune boosters. Further, in-depth studies (both In-silico and Pre Clinical trials) are expected to bring to limelight the hidden quantum of bioactive compounds in the fruits these medicinal plants and their therapeutic potential.
 Keywords: RLHT; Medicinal Plants; Folklore Medicine; Wild Edible Fruits (WEFs); Ethnobotany

Ethno-Medicinal Uses of Wild Edible Fruits in Pokhara Valley, Nepal

The wild fruits are freely available as a source of food. The phytochemicals available in such fruits can be used to cure different health problems of human beings naturally. This study was carried out from July 2020 to August 2021 in different places, particularly in less populated areas like Ward No. 19, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of Pokhara Metropolitan City in Kaski District, Nepal. The data were collected, using a verbal questionnaire in which the respondents were locals and traditional healers. The study was conducted almost in a rural condition, but there was still a good vegetation in its core town areas. People of these areas consume wild fruits mostly as a source of nutrition, vitamins and minerals, but they take them as raw food and know less about their medicinal values. Some wild fruits like Berberis aristata (Chutro), Citrus limon (Jyamir), Cassia fistula (Rajbrikshya), Mangifera indica (Anmp), Punica granatum (Anar), Sapindus mukorossi (Rittha), Tamarindus indica (Imili) and Ziziphus jujuba (Bayar) show their tremendous medicinal values to cure various health problems. Similarly, there are other well-known fruits like Aegle marmelos (Bel), Emblica officinalis (Amala), Piper longum (Pipla), Solanum nigram (Jangali bihi), Terminalia bellerica (Barro) and T. chebula (Harro), which can be used for herbal medicines. The results revealed that 41 species of plants belonging to 24 families have been used as the wild fruits with ethno-medicinal values. Such families are Anacardiaceae, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Combretaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Juglandaceae, Lauraceae, Moraceae, Myricaceae, Myrsinaceae, Myrtaceae, Papillionaceae, Piperaceae, Punicaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae, Solanaceae, Trapaceae and Vitaceae. This study is the first report to show the ethno-medicinal uses of wild edible fruits in Pokhara valley, Nepal.

Nutraceutical Potentials of Azanza garckeana (Snot Apple): A Review

Background: Nutraceuticals are products derived from natural sources and are used as therapeutic agents for the management of various health disorders. Several nutraceuticals have been produced from fruits, including wild edible fruits. Azanza garckeana is an example of wild edible fruit belonging to the Malvaceae family. It is a semi-deciduous flowering plant that grows in savan-na-wooded grasslands and open forests. It can be found in tropical Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and some countries of Western Africa. All parts of the plant are useful for medical and economic purposes. There are various traditional claims on the application of various parts of the plant in the management and treatment of diabetes, infertility, aches and pains, hemorrhage, liver and cardiac diseases, etc. Objective: This article presents a review of the plant Azanza garckeana regarding its botanical de-scription, its traditional relevance economically and medically, and its established nutritional as well as pharmacological relevance based on reported in vitro and in vivo experimental investigations. Conclusion: Experimental reports on the nutritional and pharmacological potentials of Azanza garckeana are sparse. Therefore, there is a need for extensive research to further establish the plant as a potential candidate for a pharmacological or nutraceutical agent for the management of oxida-tive stress-related diseases and other human health disorders.

Evaluation of Phytochemical Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-bacterial and Anti-inflammatory activity of Piper schmidtii Hook. fil. A Wild Edible Fruit

Aim: The present study aims at screening the phytochemical components and evaluates the antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity of fruit of Piper schmidtii, an endemic plant species from The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Method: The different polar solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water were used and extraction was carried out using the soxhlet apparatus. The extracts were screened for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis. The extracts of P. schmidtii were also subjected to in vitro-antioxidant activity by DPPH assay, Phosphomolybdenum assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), superoxide radical scavenging activity, and reducing power assay. Results: Among all the extracts, methanol extract exhibited the maximum amount of phenolics (731.91 mg GAE/g extract), tannin (726.6 milligrams of Gallic acid equivalent/g extract), and ethyl acetate extract depicted the maximum quantity of flavonoids (698.17 mg QE/g extract). Methanol extract of P. schmidtii revealed the higher antioxidant activity in all the assays with IC50 values of 15.19 μg/ml (DPPH), 135.67 mg AAE/g (Phosphomolybdenum assay), 380.98 mM Fe/mg (FRAP), 60.94% (Superoxide) and higher reducing power was depicted in the ethyl acetate extract, respectively. Further anti-bacterial activity revealed that the methanol extract shows highest inhibitory activity against the tested bacterial pathogens. The methanol extract showed high degree of inhibition (71.24%) in anti-inflammatory assay. Conclusion: Thus, the result support that P. schmidtii is a potential source of natural antioxidant that can inhibit bacterial growth and subside inflammation.

Plant macro-remains from the Late Iron Age smithy at Piperbühel (South Tyrol, Italy)

From the Neolithic onwards, prehistoric human land use is testified by various archaeological records in the area around Piperbühel (South Tyrol, Italy). This archaeobotanical study involves a rare archaeological record, a Late Iron Age smithy which was evidenced by the smiths’ hearth and the smithing waste. The aim of this research was to broaden knowledge about the composition of finds, the plant diet and the environment of the smiths. There was a special focus on the edible fruits and nuts in the Eastern Alps during the Iron Age. Ten stratigraphic units with a total weight of 101 kg or a bulk volume of 92 l were archaeobotanically processed and analysed. The samples contained archaeological, archaeozoological and archaeobotanical finds. Cultivated plants such as Hordeum vulgare (barley), Triticum dicoccum (emmer), Panicum miliaceum (broomcorn millet) and Vicia faba (faba bean) were evidenced. They belonged to the most commonly cultivated plants during the Iron Age. The edible wild fruits and nuts of Cornus mas (cornel cherry), Corylus avellana (common hazel), Prunus cf. padus (probably bird cherry), Prunus cf. spinosa (probably sloe), Sambucus nigra (black elder), and Vitis vinifera (grapevine) were consumed. Recovered herbs and weeds such as Arenaria serpyllifolia (thyme-leaved sandwort), Chenopodium hybridum (maple-leaved goosefoot), Myosotis sylvatica (wood forget-me-not), Polygonum lapathifolium (curlytop knotweed), Rumex acetosa (common sorrel), Silene vulgaris (bladder campion) and Solanum nigrum (black nightshade) demonstrate different habitats. The wild plants reflect a cultural landscape characterised by low-density deciduous stands, hoe weed, ruderal plant and pastureland communities. The correlation of the edible fruits and nuts from 24 Iron Age settlements in different geographic regions of the Eastern Alps resulted in varying fruit compositions, which were due to different local growth and taphonomic conditions. The most frequently found fruits and nuts at the settlement sites during the Iron Age were C. avellana, V. vinifera, P. spinosa, Rubus (raspberry/blackberry) and Sambucus.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in eastern Bhutan

BackgroundIn the past, wild edible fruits (WEFs) were a significant source of food and nutrition in Bhutan. These nutrient-rich species can enhance food security and alleviate poverty in Bhutan. However, recent developments like the introduction of improved fruit varieties, changes in dietary choices, and infrastructure development are expected to influence indigenous knowledge and consumption of WEFs. We aimed to document the species diversity of WEFs and their uses in eastern Bhutan and examine how the knowledge and consumption of WEFs vary with socio-demographic factors.MethodsA total of 97 households in two districts were selected to participate in the survey. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview a selected adult from each household. Comparative analysis of indigenous knowledge and consumption of WEFs among the socio-demographic factors was performed using one-way ANOVA and a Chi-square test on R software.ResultsThe present study reported 52 species of WEFs belonging to 35 families. The prevalence of WEF consumption was found to be 42%. WEF consumption differed significantly between districts, age groups, and indigenous knowledge levels. Similarly, indigenous knowledge of WEFs was significantly associated with districts and age groups.ConclusionsEastern Bhutan has a rich diversity of WEFs, but their consumption has been decreasing. Recent agricultural and infrastructure developments may have impacted the consumption and indigenous knowledge of WEFs in this region. Thus, domestication and agro-processing of WEFs should become a major focus in Bhutan to utilize their nutritional value and potential economic benefits to enhance food security in the country. Additionally, incorporating WEF-related knowledge in the school curriculum is essential to educate younger generations on WEFs.

Asexual morph and molecular phylogeny of Phyllactinia rhoina on Choerospondias axillaris

AbstractChoerospondias axillaris (Anacardiaceae) is a fast‐growing tree species with edible wild fruits, used as pioneer tree for reforestation in south China. Fruits, leaves and bark are utilized for diverse culinary and pharmaceutical purposes. In December 2019, C. axillaris infected by powdery mildew was collected in Lianhuashan Park (117.01°E, 25.10°N), Fujian, China. The disease affected approximately 50‒60%, which severely influenced the yield and quality of the infected trees. Based on morphological and molecular analyses, the causal agent was identified as Phyllactinia rhoina. As far as we are aware, this is the first detailed description of the asexual morph for this species and the first complete molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS and 28S rDNA gene sequences. The information may be helpful for disease monitoring purposes of C. axillaris for growers.

Diversity of wild edible fruit plant species and their threatened status in the Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Suwardi AB, Navia ZI, Harmawan T, Seprianto, Syamsuardi, Mukhtar E. 2022. Diversity of wild edible fruit plant species and their threatened status in the Aceh Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 1311-1319. Aceh Province, Indonesia is home to a diverse range of tropical fruit plants. However, increased anthropogenic activities such as population growth and natural disasters resulted in various biological resources such as wild edible fruit plants being under threat. The study aimed to assess the diversity and threatened status of wild edible fruit plant species in the Aceh Province of Indonesia. The study was conducted in six regencies, namely Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Timur, Aceh Selatan, Aceh Utara, Aceh Barat, and Aceh Tengah. At each study area, a line transect of 1,000 meters was laid from the forest's edge into the forest. Wild edible fruit plant species discovered along the transect were collected and given local names. A total of 129 wild edible fruit plant species at six studied areas in the Aceh Province belonged to 38 families. The highest number of fruit plant species was recorded in the district of Aceh Tamiang, i.e., 63 species, followed by Aceh Selatan (56 species), Aceh Barat (46 species), Aceh Timur (37 species), Aceh Utara (31 species), and Aceh Tengah (23 species). Mangifera foetida Lour., Mangifera odorata Griff., Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Ficus altissima Blume, Ficus fistulosa Reinw. ex Blume, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Passiflora foetida L., and Pometia pinnata J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. were the most frequently recorded wild fruit plant species in all regencies. From 129 wild edible fruit species recorded in the study areas, 35% are currently classified as Least Concern, 6% as Vulnerable, 3% as Near Threatened, 2% as Low Risk, 2% as Data Deficient, and 52% of species in the IUCN red list had No Available Data. Community-based conservation through domestication of wild edible fruit plant species can be one of the management strategies for the conservation of wild edible fruit plants in Aceh Province.

Ethnobotanical notes on some potential wild edible fruits used by the Bhotia community of Niti Valley, Uttarakhand, India

The present study deals with the diversity, distribution and ethnobotany of wild edible fruits consumed by the Bhotia tribe of Niti valley, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India. Most of these valuable resources fulfil the nutritional, health and economic requirements of Bhotia community up to a large extent. Though the wild edible fruits have great socio-economic significance in sustenance of many tribal/rural communities but due to the increasing trends of modernized agriculture, climate change and various natural and anthropogenic hazards, a large number of genetic resources of wild edible fruits are under severe threat, hence warrants immediate attention for their conservation, domestication and utilization through improvement/selection. Keeping this in view, ethnobotanical knowledge and diversity distribution patterns of 27 potential wild edible fruits consumed by Bhotia tribe in Niti Valley have been recorded with their botanical names, family, local names, uses and indigenous processing methods.

Biochemical Changes during Ripening of Ker Fruits from Arid Zone

Capparis decidua is an important wild edible fruit found in arid zone of Rajasthan. During adverse climatic conditions when fresh vegetables are not easily available, the green immature ker fruits, provide all the necessary supplements to the diet of rural people living in the desert. These berries are rich in protein, carbohydrates, fats and minerals and used by either pickling or in form of a delicious vegetable curry. Quality of any fruit depends on various physico-biochemical changes, which occur during its growth, development and maturity. To study some of these chemical changes viz. sugar, protein and fat during development and ripening of Capparis decidua fruits during the three fruiting periods, these were graded into 6 categories and then evaluated for chemical parameters. Initially as the fruit matured these parameters increased, but there was a dip in their content at a certain stage and then they increased again as the ripening proceeded. Variation of these parameters in different fruiting periods showed that the April season fruits were rich in sugar (10.83%) hence less bitter. Protein was maximum in July (13.56%) fruits and seeds of winter season fruits were rich in fatty oil (19.15%). Analysis of variance revealed these changes were significant at P< 5%. As these parameters are important determinants of eating quality, the rural inhabitants can enhance their livelihood by harvesting these fruits at proper time and selling them in the market.

Site formation processes, human activities and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from archaeobotanical records in cave and rock-shelter sites in NE Iberia

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the potential of cave and rock-shelter sites for palaeoecological and archaeobotanical research. Climate conditions in the Mediterranean region and the depositional and post-depositional dynamics involved in the formation processes of open-air sites cause, in many cases, poor conservation of archaeobotanical remains, especially in the case of pollen, affected by oxidation and other taphonomic agents. However, more stable temperature and humidity, as found in cave and rock-shelter sites, provide optimum conditions for the preservation of vegetal remains. This study presents integrated archaeobotanical data from several NE Iberian sites, with occupations from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. On the one hand, the diachronic study of the pollen record in archaeological stratigraphies reconstructs vegetation evolution and abrupt climate changes during the Pleistocene and the Holocene. On the other hand, archaeopalynology reveals the need to consider different taphonomic agents in the interpretation of pollen records in archaeological cave and rock-shelter sites, especially the anthropogenic input of plants to the archaeological contexts. The study of anthracological remains offers a picture of the surrounding wooded landscape, and provides data to characterise vegetal resource management and to verify which plants were brought to the cave. Finally, the carpological record shows the presence of edible wild fruits from bushes and trees in the Pleistocene and beginnings of the Holocene, and cultivated and synanthropic plants from the Middle Holocene onwards.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF EDIBLE WILD FRUIT BEARING WOODY SPECIES UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE TYPES & MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN DANGUR DISTRICT, NORTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA

The traditional and indigenous knowledge on sustainable management and utilization of wild edible fruit bearing woody species is not well documented in Ethiopia. There are many plants species which are most popular and widely used for various socio-economic purposes including as supplementary food items and medicinal plants by local community. Wild edible fruit bearing woody species are highly inhabited on agricultural landscape and natural forests in which their diversity is threatened due to deforestation and forest degradation. Moreover, the traditional knowledge of using these wild edible fruit bearing woody species is being eroded through acculturation and loss of plant biodiversity in most of indigenous people. Hence, conducting research is crucial to generate useful information for ensuring food security and to maximize the socio-economic benefits through biodiversity conservation. This study was conducted to analyze socio-economic benefits of wild edible fruit bearing woody species and management under different use type in Dangur. A systematic sampling method was employed to locate the sample plots following the transect line in order to study the species diversity and socio-economic benefits, where the first transect line and plot were selected randomly inside the land use types. For wood land use type a plot size of 20 m × 20 m were used to encompass all edible wild fruit tree species inside the plots. For parkland agroforestry a plot size of 50 m × 100 m making a total of 144 plots were used for data collection. For socioeconomic study, 90 households were interviewed through structured questionnaire from three sample villages. Most prevalent species used as traditional medicine comprised plant families of Balanitaceae, Rhamnaceae and Apocynaceae under both woodland and parkland agroforestry types. The most frequently recorded species include Syzygium guineense, Ziziphus mauritiana. Ficus sur, Ficus sycomorus, Carissa spinarum, Balanites aegyptiaca and Gardenia ternifolia. From the recorded edible wild fruit woody species, fruits of 90% were trees that were most frequently used for different plant parts for various economical uses. Farmers retained edible wild fruit bearing woody species in their parkland agroforestry for the purpose of fuel wood, food, improving soil fertility, fodder, timber, shade and construction. The local communities employ management practices such as thinning, pruning and protection. The relative presence of high number of edible wild fruit bearing tree species in the study area is a good indicator of biodiversity conservation for food and nutrition and medicinal plants which needs good effort of in-situ conservation and applying of appropriate management practices.

A Comprehensive Review on the Endemic Plant Docynia indica: Its Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Ethnomedicinal Perspective

Ethnobotanical knowledge and ethnomedicinal methodologies from different parts of the world are of comprehensive significance and documentation of ethnobotanical, and ethnomedicinal data is a key prerequisite for further research in the domain of herbal medicine and its implementation in modern clinical research. The important sources of beneficial natural products and ethnomedicinal elements are majorly contributed by the wild edible fruits. The Docynia indica is a wild edible fruit that belongs to the Rosaceae family and mainly disseminates in the eastern region of the Himalayas. Since immemorial time Docynia indica is an integral part of ethnomedicine and traditionally implemented for treating innumerable health diseases. It is a valuable ethnomedicinal plant with important sources of minerals and vitamins and is conventionally used for treating common ailments. In the traditional system of medicine, it is regarded as a wonderful prophylactic for combating enteric diseases. The natural compounds extracted from the fruits of Docynia indica contain polyphenol especially alkaloids and flavonoids which significantly have an antihyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic property. The wild edible fruits are underemphasized despite their fascinating ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal characteristics. Similarly, Docynia indica is a less explored endemic fruit that contains eminent natural compounds and ethnomedicinal importance. Though it is less popular in urban regions but in ethnic groups it is a key component in indigenous traditional medicine system. This article mainly discusses the morphological features and phytochemical constitutes of Docynia indica and ethnobotanical characteristics highlighting the ethnomedicinal perspective.