Taro Research Articles

Characterization of sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) flours with potential application in the preparation of both gluten-free and high protein foods.

Background: Interest in alternative sources of tubers and legumes has increased in recent years because of the constant search for raw materials that provide bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential benefits for consumers. The functionality of new raw materials is sought through physical and/or chemical modifications to develop and innovate new foods. The objective of this study was to characterize taro (TF) (Colocasia esculenta) and sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) flours, obtained by the wet (SIF-WM) and defatted method (SIF-DM), as an alternative for the formulation of new functional foods. Methods: The free polyphenols of the different mixtures were analyzed, and the antioxidant properties of the extracts obtained were measured using ABTS.* (2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). The ABTS radical method, which reacts with the phenolic compounds of the food matrix, using Trolox as a standard. The blends were subjected to pasting analysis, flow profile tests, determination of viscoelastic properties (temperature sweep). Characterization of common microorganisms in these foods was performed. Results: The highest protein value was obtained in the sacha inchi flour obtained by the defatted method (72.62). The majority of components in taro were carbohydrates (85.4%). About antioxidant and determination of free polyphenols, taro flour obtained values of 2.71 µmol ET/g and 7.47 mg EAG/g, higher than Sacha inchi flours. In the rheological analysis (pasting properties, flow profile, and viscoelasticity), we observed that adding taro flour in different mixtures increases the viscosity peak and a lower breakdown, while there was an increase in setback. Except for defatted sacha flour, the others presented a flow index >1 before heating, showing a dilatant fluid behavior. The presence of Taro flour improves gel formation and stability. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella were present in the taro flour. Conclusions: The flours analyzed represent a raw material with great potential for the development of gluten-free foods with functional properties.

Comparative Study of Dormant Bud Development in Taro [Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Xanthosoma sp. and Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] in Relation to their Size and Localization on the Principal Tuber

The study was to determine the effects of variety, position and bud size on six parameters of taro development and production. For that, 480 tuber cuttings of three varieties (C1, C3, CD) of Colocasia and (X1, X4, X5) of Xanthosoma carrying small and large buds were sown in a complete randomized blocks design with two repetitions, in the University Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Côte d'Ivoire). The analyses showed that leaves of X5 emerged earlier (23 days). Also, leaves limb of X1, X4, X5 are longer (22 to 25 cm) and wider (20 to 25 cm) than those of C3 and CD (19 cm). Petioles and leaves are longer (51 and 74.25 cm, respectively) in X1. In contrast, Colocasia produced more tubers. Overall, bud of the top germinated earlier (26 days), generated longer (22.90 cm) and wider (22.54 cm) laminas and more tubers. Conversely, petioles and leaves from bud of the middle are longer. Also the large buds sprouted earlier (24.82 days) and generated longer (24.09 cm), wider (23.48 cm) laminas, longer petioles (45.32 cm) and leaves (69.43 cm). Furthermore, in individual varieties, on the one hand, plants grown from top buds presented the widest laminas (19.89 and 25.58 cm), in CD and X5, the longest petioles and leaves (41.44 and 67.83 cm) and, in addition, produced the greatest number (3.35) of tubers, in X5. On the other hand, large bud germinated earlier (25.20 days) in C3 and generated the longest laminas (19.71 to 26.84 cm) in the five varieties, wide (21.96 to 27.32 cm) in X1, X4, C3, the longest petioles (46.57 cm) in C3, longest leaves (61.30 to 79.73 cm) in C3, X1, X4 and the greatest number (3 to 6.23) of tubers in C3 and X4. All these findings should be exploited for better taro production.

Nutritional analysis of Colocasia esculenta l. tubers aqueous extract and comparative analysis with existing literature

Taro (C. esculenta L.) is a plant in the Araceae family that is farmed as a tuber. This plant is one of the non-animal sources of nutrients, minerals, and trace elements and has had numerous biological activities. Taro plants offer antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antihepatotoxic properties. To have better nutritional content and wider and longer-lasting applications in culinary products, the taro tuber requires going through a process that increases its use value, one of which is extraction. The research aim of this work was to use several analytical methods to determine the nutrition components in the aqueous extract of C. esculenta L. Some of the nutrients found in the aqueous extract of C. esculenta L. consist of total protein 10.9%, total carbohydrate 75.5%, amylose 8.20%, amylopectin 43.6%, starch 51.8%, omega 6 0.2%, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E at 0.5 IU/100gr, 24.8 g/100gr, and 0.01 mg/100 gr. Water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C were present in amounts of 4.55, 1.96, 0.17, and 0.70 mg/kg, respectively. C. esculenta L. aqueous extract also included minerals such as the trace elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in the amounts of 35.2, 4638, 137, 129, 47.9, and 13.8 (mg/100gram), respectively. The aqueous extract of C. esculenta L. tubers includes a variety of nutrients and offers the potential to be consumed as a functional food.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Taro Leaf Antioxidants Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents: An Eco-Friendly Strategy for the Valorization of Crop Residues.

Colocasia esculenta L. leaves are considered a by-product of taro cultivation and are discarded as environmental waste, despite their valuable phenolic composition. Their valorization to obtain value-added substances for medicinal, food, and cosmetic applications is the aim of the current work. An ultrasound-assisted extraction was developed for the environmentally friendly and sustainable isolation of taro leaf antioxidants using natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs). Among the utilized solvents, the NaDES based on betaine and ethylene glycol provided the best extraction efficiencies in terms of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Multi-response optimization suggested a solvent-to-solid ratio of 10 mL g-1, a processing time of 60 min, an extraction temperature of 60 °C, and a water content of 33.8% (w/w) as optimal extraction parameters. Leaf extract obtained under these optimum operational parameters demonstrated a strong radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (65.80 ± 0.87%), a high ferric reducing antioxidant power (126.62 ± 1.92 μmol TE g-1 sample), and significant protection against oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. The chromatographic characterization of the optimum extract revealed its richness in flavonoids (flavones and flavonols). The outcomes of the present study suggest that the proposed method could serve as a highly efficient and green alternative for the recovery of polyphenols from agricultural wastes.

Evaluation of antihyperlipidemic potential of aqueous corm extract of Colocasia esculenta in experimental model of rats

IntroductionHyperlipidaemia is characterised by elevated or abnormally high levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood. The current medication for hyperlipidaemia only alleviates symptoms temporarily and is not without any unfavorable side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to find innovative medications from the plant kingdom that could provide a therapeutic solution that is both affordable and free of unfavorable side effects. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic properties of an aqueous corm extract (CE) using acute hyperlipidaemia models. MethodsFor our experiment, we employed 60 Wistar rats of both sex, which were divided into five separate groups (n = 6 each) for each model. Poloxamer-407 (P-407) and d-fructose were used to induce hyperlipidemic activity in the rats, and the standard used was fenofibrate (250 mg/kg p.o.). For a period of 15 days for P-407 and 21 days for d-fructose, our study assessed the efficacy of an aqueous corm extract at dosages of 200 and 300 mg/kg (p.o.). Hyperlipidemic activity was assessed using a variety of parameters. The histopathology of rat liver was also estimated. ResultsThe corm extract treatment led to a notable decrease in the cholesterol, and triglycerides in the elevated lipid levels that were induced by P-407 and d- fructose. The extract also showed a significant decrease in the LDL and VLDL levels. ConclusionOur study indicates that the CE has the potential as an antihyperlipidemic agent, possibly due to its ability to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol, and facilitate the catabolism and excretion of the other lipids. The CE is rich in nutrients and phytochemicals like flavonoids and saponins, which may contribute to its hypolipidemic effect.

Analysing the role of a bio-surfactant extracted from Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott on the stabilization of high concentrated iron ore slurry for transportation

ABSTRACT. The transportation of minerals/ores in form of slurry through pipelines is an alternative, effective and also eco-friendly mode of transportation. Surfactants extracted from the plant sources are gaining high interest for the formulation and stabilization of high concentrated solid-water slurries. In this work, the role of a novel bio-surfactant extracted from Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott on the stabilisation of iron ore slurry (IOS) was studied and reported first time. The collected iron ore powder (IOP) and dried IOS samples were analysed with the help of XRF, XRD, SEM and EDS analysis. The results confirmed that the surfactant molecules (present in aqueous Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) coated well on iron surface and forms an effective barrier between the iron ore (IO) particles. The studied rheological parameters for the slurry indicated non-Newtonian flow behaviour.
 KEY WORDS: Iron ore slurry, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, XRD, SEM, rheological measurements
 Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(6), 1459-1470. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i6.13

A comprehensive health risk assessment associated with bioaccumulation of heavy metals and nutrients in selected macrophytes of Loktak Lake, Manipur, India.

The Loktak Lake, a Ramsar site in Northeast India, is known for its rich biodiversity that includes a variety of macrophyte species, most of which have not been studied for their phytoremediation capacities and potential toxicity via consumption of the edible species. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment was conducted to evaluate the accumulation of selected heavy metals and nutrients in 10 dominant macrophyte species growing in Loktak Lake and to assess the potential health risks associated with consumption of the edible plants. The concentrations of nutrients such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and heavy metals such as copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) were found to be in the order of plant > sediment > water. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) revealed high efficiency of most plants to accumulate heavy metals and nutrients in their tissues from the lake water and sediments, indicating their potential to be used as phytoremediators. Translocation factors (TFs) were also estimated to determine the efficiency of the plants to translocate elements from root to shoot. Colocasia esculenta and Polygonum perfoliatum exhibited the highest BAF values, whereas Colocasia esculenta, Hedychium flavum, Phragmites karka, and Oenanthe javanica exhibited the highest TF values for most elements. Target hazard quotients (THQs) revealed potential health risks associated with one or more heavy metals in the plants, except for Zn, whose THQ values were below the level of concern in all the edible plant species. The hazard index (HI) signifying potential non-carcinogenic health risk from the combined effects of all the heavy metals was highest for Polygonum perfoliatum, indicating a potentially higher risk to health if this edible macrophyte is regularly consumed in higher quantities and may pose long-term health effects to the exposed population.

Suitability of Flours and Gels From Crops Affected by Climate Change in Honduras: Crystallinity, Thermal, Dynamic Rheological and Textural Behavior

In Honduras, various tubers, roots, and cereals are cultivated as starchy crops. The current climatic crisis affects these crops' productivity, leading to an increase in agricultural residue, resulting in food insecurity. Agricultural residues from these crops have the potential to be processed, marketed, and contribute to the regular diets of consumers. In addition to serving as an essential source of carbohydrates, these crops provide several nutrients and health benefits. This study aimed to characterize the flours and gels of Colocasia esculenta (taro), Manihot esculenta (cassava), and Zea mays (maize) in terms of crystallinity and thermal parameters for flours and dynamic rheological, firmness, and color behavior of gels. The relative crystallinity of the selected crop samples is reported. There were considerable variations in the thermal parameters among the three cultivars. All flour suspensions at different concentrations led to gels with solid-like behavior (G′ > G″) at 25 °C, with the highest consistency for maize gels at the same concentration. The Avrami mathematical model was effectively applied to analyze the firmness kinetics of taro, cassava, and maize gels stored at 4 °C. All properties characterized suggest that flours from these crops affected by climate change would be suitable ingredients in different food formulations. Keywords: Food security; Climate change; Crystallinity; Thermal properties; Gel rheology.

Evaluation and phenotypic plasticity of taro [Colocasia esculenta (l.) Schott.] genotypes for nutrient and anti-nutrient composition.

The study was carried out to determine the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of taro genotypes and also determine the phenotypic plasticity of the genotypes in two agro ecological zones in Ghana. The towns and zones were Bunso in the semi deciduous forest (an upland) and Tano Dumasi in the forest savannah transition agro-ecological (a waterlogged area) zone in the Eastern and Ashanti regions respectively.Two (2) freshly harvested corms of each genotype from each location were assessed for their nutritional (moisture, protein, carbohydrate, ash and fat) and anti-nutritional (phytate, oxalate and tannin) composition Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and AMMI analysis using GenStat 12 edition to assess the effect of genotype, environment and their interaction on the traits studied. Phenotypic plasticity for the genotypes and the traits studied was also calculated. Pearson correlation was also conducted to assess the relationship between the traits studied. There were significant differences among the genotypes for nutrient and anti-nutrient composition except for percentage fat, indicating enough genetic variability among the genotypes, giving room for good selection progress for development of taro varieties. A higher magnitude of the environment over genotype and genotype by environment interaction observed indicates the influence of environment in the expression of the nutritional and anti-nutritional traits. Observed varied phenotypic plasticity among the genotypes for the nutrient and anti-nutrients composition also indicates varied adaptation of the genotypes to the environment. Genotypes BL/SM/115, CE/MAL/32 and CE/IND/16 and hybrids KAO19 × CE/MAL/32 and CE/IND/16×KAO19, CE/IND/16 × BL/SM/10, and CE/IND/16 × BL/SM/115 which recorded high nutrients and low anti-nutrients content and were stable across the environments can be released to farmers for cultivation. They could also be included in breeding programs for the development of enhanced nutritional quality of taro in Ghana.

Enhancement of Refrigerated Shelf Life of Foods against Microbial Spoilage Using Indian Spices

AIMS: Evaluation of the effects of treatment of aqueous extracts and powder of spices on enhancement of refrigerated shelf life of vegetables.
 Study Design: Aqueous extract and powder of turmeric (Curcuma longa), black pepper (Piper nigrum), garlic (Allium sativum)and cumin (Cuminum cyminum)were used to enhance refrigerated shelf life of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), taro roots (Colocasia esculenta), bottle gourd (Lagennaria siceraria)and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum).
 Place and Duration: The study was made at Shobhit Institute of Engineering & Technology, Meerut during the period of January to December, 2022.
 Methodology: Microbial counts technique was used to evaluate the impact of spice treatment on boiled foods stored in the refrigerator.
 Results: We found that aqueous treatment of spices was not as effective as treatment with powdered spices. Black pepper treatment enhanced the storage life of all four vegetables followed by turmeric, garlic and cumin. The mixed treatment with turmeric, black pepper, garlic and cumin was very effective and safe for consumption for up to 3 days when stored in refrigerator.
 Conclusion: Unconsumed extra foods are commonly stored in refrigerator throughout the world and it is suggested that if the boiled vegetables are treated with a mixture of powder of turmeric + black pepper + garlic + cumin, they may be stored for longer time.

Bioactive Components of Moringa Oleifera and Colocasia Leaves and Their Uses in Indian Multipurpose Cuisine

The aim of this research study is to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice along with the traditional food intake method. The study was carried out on 308 participants of age group from 18-68 years irrespective of gender and occupation through online survey and consumer preferences value added product like premix were experimented and the consumer acceptability was evaluated by sensory techniques. The extracts of leaves and bark significantly suppressed the growth of cultured human multiple myeloma cell lines, whereas the leaf extracts induced cytotoxic effects on human pancreatic carcinoma cells.In conclusion, the present review aims to address the nutritional importance of the plant and its cultivation, post-harvest management, and processing possibilities to prolong the shelf life of fresh corms. The knowledge was high among the participants about consumption of moringa and Colocasialeaves. Colocasia leaves are rich in protein, complementing the high carbohydrate content of the tubers.The leaves of Colocasia esculenta are rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. The nutritional and anti-nutritional components of taro are essential for maintaining food security and promoting rural development.

Effect of high voltage dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma treatment on physicochemical and functional properties of taro (Colocasia esculenta) starch

The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of three different power levels (30, 32 and 34 kV) and exposure time (2, 4 and 8 min) of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma treatment on the functional and physicochemical characteristics of taro starch. Investigations were done into how different treatments impact the multi-structural, functional and physicochemical attributes of taro starch. The findings showed that cold plasma treatments substantially impacted starch granule shapes (3.60–2.54 μm), such as reduced aggregations and developed fissures on granule surface due to the generation of an etching by plasma species and enhancement in the surface topography and roughness of treated starch as compared with native by SEM and AFM analysis. Besides this, no variations were detected in the functional groups of taro starch using FT-IR analysis after cold plasma treatments. However, the A-type pattern in the XRD did not affect it, while a reduction in relative crystallinity (14.20–11.50 %) was seen as a function of the active plasma species depolymerization. Furthermore, depending on the cold plasma voltage and treatment time, amylose content (20.12–15.98 %), paste clarity (24.48–31.27 %), solubility (0.41–65.53 %), freezing thaw stability (% syneresis) (32.10–42.58 %), color properties (L*, 94.79–97.52), whiteness index (79.37–84.66), molecular weight distribution (Peak 1, 12.79–5.35 × 108 g/mol; Peak 2, 4.20–1.56 × 107 g/mol) and in vitro digestibility (RDS, 64.10–64.08 %) significantly changed. So, based on these excellent properties, this study suggested that cold plasm-treated taro starch can be used in the field of food packaging material, functional food and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, a potential approach for physically altering starch is plasma treatment.

Characteristics related to the nutrient composition of white bread with the addition of Taro leaves (Colocasia esculenta (L). Schott) as antidiabetic food

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that occurs due to increased blood glucose levels as a result of the body's inability to process carbohydrates or glucose. The most crucial thing in diabetes mellitus is diet, especially when it comes to choosing food. The good news is that Taro leaf (Colocasia esculenta (L). Schoot), as a raw material, has a potential to control blood glucose levels and can be functional by adding it to food such as white bread. The aim of this study is to determine the best formula of white bread modified with the addition of taro leaves that can have a positive impact on people with diabetes. This is an experimental study with one factor completely randomized design using four treatments in which white bread with additional taro leaves 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. These breads will be analyzed for their nutrition (carbohydrate, protein, fat, water, ash) product acceptance, antioxidant activity, and glycemic index and glycemic load. The best formula was obtained by the De Garmo method. There was no difference in the mean percentage value of inhibition and protein content of white bread with taro leaves added even though carbohydrate, fat, water, and ash content showed a difference. The highest value of carbohydrate content was at 15% taro leaf white bread (52.46%), the highest fat was at 0% (7.71%), the highest water was at 10% (36.52%), the highest ash was at 0% (1.56%) and the highest antioxidant activity was at 10%. The glycemic index and load of 10% indicated a high category (93.07% and 21.78 g/100 g of food). However, based on the results, there was a decrease in blood glucose response in taro leaves white bread compared to white bread without the taro leaves added. Organoleptic analysis showed that the formulation with the highest acceptance level was 10%. Therefore, the best formulation chosen based on The Effectiveness Index (De Garmo) was 10% taro leaf white bread with a value of 0.75. Key words: taro leaves, white bread, functional food, nutrient content, antidiabetic

Adaptability and yield performance of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) cultivars in three agro-ecological zones in Ghana

Adaptability and yield performance of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) cultivars in three agro-ecological zones in Ghana

Growth and production of japanese taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) by using plastic mulch and biofertilizer

Japanese taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) production in Indonesia is around 20 tons/hectare, but it is still relatively low due to the low level of farmer management including fertilizing and watering especially in dry season. We determined the effect of plastic mulch and biofertilizer on the growth and production of japanese taro plants. This research used a split plot design. The main plot was plastic mulch consist of two levels, namely control and plastic mulch, while the sub-plots were biofertilizer, which consist of two levels: control and biofertilizer; and with four replications. Each plot planted with 22 plants. Parameters observed were plant height, leaf number, leaf width, fresh plant top weight, dry plant top weight, plant tuber yield, and number of tubers. The results are plastic mulch treatment had an effect on plant height with the largest average found in the mulch treatment of 55.98 cm, the largest average leaf width in the mulch treatment was 25.09 cm, the average fresh weight of the mulch plant was 197.03 g, and the average dry weight of mulch plants was 22.50 g. The biofertilizer treatment affected significantly on plant height, leaf number, and leaf width. Mulch was affects significantly on production of taro plants with the highest of weight of 881.50g/plant equal to 22 t/ha, and number of tubers found in the mulch treatment of 32 bulbs. However, the biofertilizer treatment was not significant in the production of taro plants. We conclude that the plastic mulch can increase the growth, yield and number of tubers, better than the biofertilizer and the combination of its combination especially in the dry season.

Phosphate solubilization potential of rhizosphere fungi isolated from satoimo taro plant

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient required by plants for their growth and development. Phosphates bioavailability in nature is approximately 95-99% but insoluble, therefore the plant can not simply use them. The alternative to overcome phosphate deficiency is by utilizing phosphate solubilizing fungi. This research is aimed at selecting and characterizing phosphate solubilizing fungi in rhizosphere of saitomo taro (Colocasia esculenta var antiquorum). The test on isolate ability to solubilize phosphate was conducted through qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative was carried out by counting index of phosphate solubilization on solid Pikovskaya while quantitative was through counting concentration of phosphate solubilization through spectrophotometry at wave length 693 nm. The result of qualitative test showed that the highest index of phosphate solubilisation was 1.08 at isolate RTP25 while quantitative demonstrated that isolate RTP16 released highest concentration of phosphate solubilization with the amount 12.78 µgl−1. Isolate RTP 25 (by Trichoderma sp) and RTP16 (by Aspergillus sp) be potential to be developed as phosphate biofertilizer.

The importance of wild edible plant and macrofungi diversity to attain food security for the tribes of eastern India—a quantitative study

BackgroundInventorization and promotion of traditionally used local flora can be a better option to gain a wide range of alternative edible resources and multiple nutritional benefits. A perusal of literature highlighted the poor nutritional status of the tribal community living in eastern India and pointed out the potential lack of information regarding locally available wild edible resources.ObjectivePresent study aimed to document detailed information on wild edibles of eastern India, evaluate their cultural significance, and understand their role in achieving food security for the local tribes.Materials and methodologyTraditional knowledge of wild edibles was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Standard protocols were followed for collecting data. The collected data were analyzed using specific statistical tools like Relative frequency of citation (RFC), and Cultural food significance index (CFSI) to identify the most cited and culturally significant species. Jaccard similarity index (JI) was used to check the similarity of food plant use in different localities and adjoining areas of the laterite region in eastern India.ResultsA total of 2,603 citations were made by the 153 participants for 83 types of wild edibles spread across 48 families. Among the 83 species, 65 species were angiosperms, three species were pteridophytes and the rest 15 were from fungal groups. The RFC value ranged from 0.04 to 0.76, and Madhuca longifolia (L.) J.F.Macbr. was identified as the most frequently cited species (FC = 116; RFC = 0.76). The Cultural food significance index (CFSI) value varied from 0.2 to 844, and thirteen wild edibles like Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Enydra fluctuans Lour., Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev., Termitomyces heimii Natarajan, etc. were identified as culturally most important in the locality.ConclusionPresent study concludes that the local flora and macrofungi diversity is a treasure trove for fulfilling human hunger and gaining enough nutritional benefit. Scientific and sustainable utilization of these wild edibles can be a wise step to attain multiple health benefits and food security for the tribal community of eastern India. Moreover, culturally accepted species can be opted as a good source for bioprospecting nutraceuticals.

Putting the Dark Emu debate into context

ABSTRACTIn this review of the Dark Emu debate we start out by summarising Bruce Pascoe's original work and Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe's critique. However, the majority of this contribution is to place this Australian‐focussed debate into broader conceptual, methodological and evidential contexts generally associated with the investigation of early agriculture in other parts of the world. If we are to apply the term “agriculture” to Aboriginal plant management practices, then this requires a global, rather than a continental‐centric comparative perspective. We argue debates regarding the character of plant exploitation practices on the Australian mainland, including whether they included forms of agriculture or experimental horticulture, have been hindered by a lack of terminological clarity, the absence of a methodological framework to assess empirically verifiable evidence, and – even more problematically – a lack of relevant data on the putative plants and practices involved. Here, terminology is clarified and a bottom‐up, practice‐based method is advocated for the assessment of recent (using oral, visual and written histories) and ancient (using archaeological, archaeobotanical and palaeoecological evidence) forms of food plant exploitation in Australia. The terminology and methodological framework are heuristically applied to three scenarios: (1) ethnographic and historical records for the exploitation of underground storage organs (USOs) on the Australian mainland; (2) historical documentation regarding the botany, potential human roles in dispersal, and Aboriginal exploitation of banana (Musa spp.), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and greater yam (Dioscorea alata) in northern Australia and (3) archaeobotanical evidence for the exploitation of USOs and other plants from The Top End.

Pharmaceutical approach of Taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Colocasia esculenta is a widely cultivated plant belonging to the family Araceae. It is commonly known as “Taro” the name was given to this family’s tubers and roots. It is an annual herbaceous plant with a long history of uses in traditional medicine and as a food in several countries. Taro is an extremely valuable source of carbohydrates as an energy source. It is rich in mucilage and starch granules. Traditionally, it has been employed in the treatment of asthma, arthritis, diarrhea, neuro disorders, and skin disorders. It possesses ingredients having antitumor, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-melanogenic properties. The literature survey carried out revealed that taro can serve as a potential film-forming agent, disintegrant, diluent, and granulating agent. The review revealed that taro can be used in the pharmaceutical industry for its various properties. Taro mucilage was found to be a suitable alternative to conventional mucilage’s in formulations and development. Also in this review, we described different extraction techniques used to extract mucilage from the corms of the taro plant. The review concluded that all parts of the taro plant are useful and have a variety of health benefits. The starch and the gum obtained from the corms of C. esculenta can be used in the pharmaceutical industries for its various properties such as in the form of binder, matrix forming agent etc.

Morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequence of ITS region and rbcL gene of Cu cang native taro

Cu cang taro cultivar in Thuan Chau district, Son La province is a precious indigenous genetic resource with high quality and well adapted to the characteristic natural conditions of Thuan Chau district, Son La province of Vietnam. However, Cu cang taro has been mixed with different cultivars in the locality. In this article, the authors presented morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequence of ITS(Internal Transcribed Spacer) region and rbcL gene of Cu cang taro in Thuan Chau district, Son La province. The ITS region and rbcL sequences isolated from Cu cang taro had sizes 506 and 630 bp. The results of similarity comparison on NCBI identified the DNA isolated from the ITS region, the rbcL gene of Cu cang taro is Colocasia esculenta species. The rbcL gene of Cu cang taro has 99.27% similarity with Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum.