Wild Edible Plants Research Articles

Identifying the chaîne opératoire of club-rush (Bolboschoenus glaucus (Lam.) S.G.Sm) tuber exploitation during the Early Natufian in the Black Desert (northeastern Jordan)

Club-rush (Bolboschoenus spp. (Asch.) Palla) is one of the most common edible wild plant taxa found at Epipaleolithic and Neolithic sites in southwest Asia. At the Early Natufian site of Shubayqa 1 (Black Desert, Jordan) thousands of club-rush rhizome-tuber remains and hundreds of fragments of prepared meals were found. The evidence indicated that the underground storage organs of this plant were recurrently used as a source of food 14,600 years ago. To determine how Early Natufian communities gathered, processed and transformed club-rush tubers into food, we designed an interdisciplinary study that combined experimental archaeology, archaeobotany, and ground and chipped stone tool analyses. We conducted more than 50 specific experiments over three years, and based on the experimental materials produced we inferred that 1) the best season for club-rush rhizome-tuber collection in the region was spring-summer time; 2) that the primary method to harvest the plant would have been uprooting; and 3) that the most efficient approaches to obtain perfectly peeled and clean rhizome-tubers could have entailed drying, roasting and gentle grinding of the tubers. Overall, our work provides important information to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire for club-rush tuber exploitation in the past. The experimental data and modern reference datasets allow us to interpret the archaeological material found at Shubayqa 1, and start identifying some of the activities that Natufian communities in the Black Desert undertook in relation to the exploitation of this particular source of food.

Ethnobotany of wild edible plants traditionally used by the local people in the Ramnagar region from Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India

Ethnobotany of wild edible plants traditionally used by the local people in the Ramnagar region from Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India

Exploring Wild Edibles of Male Mahadeshwara Betta (MM Hills) and their potential for socio economic development of local people: A scientific and technological interventions approach

Wild edibles refer to non-cultivated edible plants found in the natural forests, fallow lands, agricultural lands etc. A variety of wild edible plants used by indigenous and tribal communities contributes significantly towards the livelihoods and socio-ecology of a landscape. Our paper examines the wild edible plants available in Male Mahadeshwara (MM Hills) Chamrajnagra, Karnataka, their uses, and scope of value addition to increase economic benefit and ensure sustainable forest management. The Majority of the tribal people in the area, is dependent on collection of forest products followed by agriculture and allied activities in and around the Sanctuary. Detailed documentation has been carried out for wild edibles on their uses, price, availability, seasonality, quantities sold and communities involved in marketing them. A total of 80 wild edible plant species were documented from the study area on parameters like taxonomic family, local name, habit, feasibility and scale of use by the tribal communities. The main tribal people here are Soligas who have inhabited these areas for generations and have traditional hereditary knowledge of use of wild plants and their parts viz., shoots, leaves, rhizomes, bark, etc. as a source of food and medicine. Analysis of the field data has shown that the wild edible plants are an essential source of income as a subsidiary livelihood option for local farm families. It is suggested that value addition to these plants is not only a better livelihood option but can also be used as a tool to reduce overexploitation of other forest resources leading to sustainable use. It is suggested that policies need to be formulated to conserve these plants in the wild habitats within the study area.

An ethnobotanical study on wild plants used by Tibetan people in Gyirong Valley, Tibet, China

BackgroundGyirong Valley known as the “Back Garden of the Himalayas” is located in the core area of the Everest National Nature Reserve. It is also one of the important ports from ancient Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal, since ancient times. Over the years, the Tibetans of Gyirong had accumulated sufficient traditional knowledge about local plant resources. However, there is almost no comprehensive report available on ethnobotanical knowledge about the local people. The purposes of this study were to (1) conduct a comprehensive study of wild plants used by Tibetan people in Gyirong Valley and record the traditional knowledge associated with wild useful plants, (2) explore the influence of Tibetan traditional culture and economic development on the use of wild plants by local people, and (3) explore the characteristics of traditional knowledge about wild plants of Tibetans in Gyirong.MethodsEthnobotanical data were documented through free listings, key informant interviews and semi-structured interviews during fieldwork. The culture importance index and the informant consensus factor index were used as quantitative indices.ResultsIn total, 120 informants (61 women and 59 men) and 3333 use reports and 111 wild plant species belonging to 39 families and 81 genera were included. These use reports were then classified into 27 categories belonging to three major categories. The use category that contained the most plant species was edible plants (62), followed by medicinal plants (32) and economic plants (22), and other uses (71). Plants with high CI included Allium prattii, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Gymnadenia orchidis, Rhododendron anthopogon and Fritillaria cirrhosa. Thirty-six species of plants in the catalog of Gyirong and Yadong were the same, but only 17 species were the same in Gyirong and Burang. There were only 11 overlapping species between all the three regions.ConclusionTibetans of Gyirong have rich and unique knowledge about plant use, and wild edible and medicinal plants play an important role in the nutrition and health protection of local people. However, traditional knowledge is slowly being lost and is being hit by modern tourism. In the future, more attention needs to be paid to the important role of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation.

AN ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF WILD FOOD PLANTS IN SIRJAN, KERMAN, IRAN

Wild plant species are among the most important candidates for reinforcing food safety in the world. Worldwide increases in population and food shortages have caused the rate of hunger to rise rapidly. Therefore, there is an urgent need to review indigenous knowledge on the traditional uses of wild edible plants so as to apply this knowledge in modern agricultural policies. The current study aims to investigate and document the indigenous knowledge of the diversity of wild food species in one region of Kerman province, Iran. A total of 66 local informants were interviewed using an open, semi-structured questionnaire. Ethnobotanical data for 37 plant species belonging to 35 families was analysed using the use value (UV) index. Asteraceae with 6 species was the largest family, and leaves were the most frequently used plant part. Overall, the most favourite wild food species is Matricaria aurea (UV 1.697), followed by Capparis spinosa (UV 1.515) and Zataria multiflora (UV 1.455). Given the widespread use of wild food species and their importance in people’s daily lives, it is suggested that the conditions for the domestication and promotion of the most commonly used wild food species be further explored.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Garcinia indica, a wild edible fruit by inhibiting secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA enzyme from human pleural fluid

Introduction and Aim: Garcinia indica is a wild edible fruit plant distributed in tropical regions of India. Fruits of G. indica were traditionally used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, etc., But the basis of anti-inflammatory function of the fruit is not understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory function of G. indica. Initially phytochemical screening of G. indica was carried out, tested antioxidant potency of G. indica fruit and evaluated its anti-inflammatory function by inhibition of secretory phospholipase A2 IIA (sPLA2IIA) enzyme. Methodology: The Soxhlet extraction method was used for the preparation of extracts of G. indica fruit. DPPH and phosphomolybdenum assays were carried out to estimate the antioxidant activities of G. indica fruit. The inhibition of sPLA2IIA, modulating indirect hemolytic and edema inducing activity and protein denaturation assays were done to evaluate the anti-inflammatory function. Results: Aqueous and solvent extracts of G. indica fruit showed a wide variety of phytochemicals. The ethanol extract of G. indica fruit showed greater antioxidant activity (79.12 % ±1.2) and reduction power (68.14% ± 4.4). The extract showed sPLA2IIA inhibition to a greater extent (50%), neutralized sPLA2IIA induced indirect hemolysis (IC50 45.518 µg/mL) and mouse paw edema (119.35% ± 2.74) with the IC50 value of 45.12 ±1.36µg. Conclusion: The extracts of G. indica contain a wide variety of phytochemicals. The ethanol extract of G. indica fruit exhibited a greater antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, the results defended the traditional usage of the G. indica fruit in the indigenous system of medicine.

The total phenol, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Zehneria maysorensis stem and leaf extracts

Zehneria species have enormous ethno-botanical value and are used by different tribes for food as wild edible plants and treatment of various ailments. The present study was designed to carry out the preliminary phytochemical screening, total phenol, flavonoid quantification followed by an investigation of the in vitro antioxidant activities of Zehneria maysorensis. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, steroids, alkaloids, phenols and tannins. Ethanol extracts of stem and leaf showed maximum phenol and flavonoid content. The extract also confirmed DPPH radical scavenging activity. A marked dose dependent antioxidant activity was observed in the trials.

A Quantitative Study on the Ethnobotanical Knowledge about Wild Edible Plants among the Population of Messiwa.

The preservation of traditional knowledge of wild edible plants (WEPs) is one of the challenges to the sustainability of natural resources. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the traditional knowledge of WEPs in relation to some socio-demographic and economic factors. The survey was conducted among the Messiwapopulationthrough a semi-structured questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire concerns socio-demographic and economic information, while the second part concerns the plants recognized and used by the informant. The recognition frequency (RF), the use frequency (UF), the general consumption frequency(CF), the recent consumption frequency (RCF), and the correlation between these frequencies were evaluated. A comparison of means was also used to compare informant's knowledge according to their socio-demographic and economic status. The three species;Foeniculum vulgare, Ziziphus lotus, and Malva sylvestris were the most recognized (FR = 1) and the most used (FU = 1). The consumption frequency (CF) and the recent consumption frequency (RCF) for Foeniculum vulgare were 1 and 0.9, respectively. Taraxacum getulum, Calendula arvensis and Cyperus rotundus were the least recognized (FR= 0.16; 0.16; 0.48) and least used (FU = 0.3; 0.3; 0.4) species, respectively. The informants who showed a high level of traditional knowledge on WEPs were housewives, with a low level of schooling and at least 45 years old. Despite the decline in traditional knowledge about wild edible plants, some populations preserve this knowledge, especially among the elderly. Therefore, documentation of this knowledge is necessary through ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal studies.

Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) Extracts: A Review.

Arctium lappa L., also known as burdock, is an edible wild plant which has the ability to grow in distinct environments and is considered a weed in several parts of the world. This species has great value in the biological and medical fields with its major secondary components being phenolic compounds and terpenes, substances rich in desired biological activities as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory. In addition, burdock leaves extracts have shown a modulatory effect on the complement system, which plays an important role in the development of inflammatory diseases, with an inhibitory effect on all complement pathways. Thus, natural products with those relevant activities are promising agents for healthcare applications. Therefore, the species A. lappa may represent an interesting asset for researching and developing new therapies for inflammatory afflictions.

Wild Edible Plants of Purmandal block of District Samba, J&K (UT), India

Background: Edible plants that are neither cultivated nor domesticated but can be found in their natural habitat are known as wild edible plants (WEPs). In times of food scarcity, WEPs give a valuable natural nutritional supply as food, diet, and nutrients. Methods: An ethnobotanical field study was conducted in eleven villages of Purmandal using focused group discussions, and interviews through semi-structured questionnaires. Information was gathered from a total of 153 informants (115 females and 38 males). Informants were briefed about the objectives of the study and Prior Informed Consent (PIC) was obtained as per Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The various uses of WEPs were quantified as use-reports, and Cultural Importance Value (CI) and Factor informant consensus (Fic) were calculated. Results: Altogether 58 plants belonging to 51 genera and 34 families were used as WEPs. Cucurbitaceae and Rutaceae (5 species each) were the most represented families, and leaves and fruits were the most frequently used plant parts. The contribution of herbs, shrubs, and climbers were 36.2%, 37.9%, and 15.5%, respectively. The maximum CI was recorded for Mangifera indica L., Phyllanthus emblica L., and Bauhinia variegata (L). Benth. The values of Fic varied between 0.95 (medicinal usage) and 0.99 (chutney preparation). Conclusion: Locals of Purmandal have good knowledge of WEPs. Traditional products made from WEPs like Mangifera indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Bauhinia variegata can be commercialized to improve the economic status of the locals. Furthermore, the nutritive values of important species may be studied. Keywords: Wild edible plants, Purmandal, Food security, Sustainable agriculture.

A preliminary study of the chemical composition and bioactivity of Bombax ceiba L. flower and its potential mechanism in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-flight mass spectrometry and network pharmacology analysis.

This study aimed to preliminary investigate the phytochemistry, bioactivity, hypoglycemic potential, and mechanism of action of Bombax ceiba L. flower (BCF), a wild edible and food plant in China. By using methanol extraction and liquid-liquid extraction, the crude extract (CE) of BCF and its petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and aqueous (AQ) fractions were obtained, and their chemical components and biological activities were evaluated. Further high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was carried out to identify and quantify the active constituents of BFC and its five fractions, and the phytochemical composition of the best-performing fraction was then analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Finally, a network pharmacology strategy based on the chemical profile of this fraction was applied to speculate its main hypoglycemic mechanism. Results revealed the excellent biological activities of BCF, especially the EtOAc fraction. In addition to the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) (367.72 μg RE/mg E) and total phenolics content (TPC) (47.97 μg GAE/mg E), EtOAc showed the strongest DPPH⋅ scavenging ability (IC50 value = 29.56 μg/mL), ABTS⋅+ scavenging ability (IC50 value = 84.60 μg/mL), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (889.62 μg FeSO4/mg E), which were stronger than the positive control BHT. EtOAc also exhibited the second-best α-glucosidase inhibitory capacity and second-best acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory capacity with the IC50 values of 2.85 and 3.27 mg/mL, respectively. Also, EtOAc inhibited HepG2, MCF-7, Raw264.7, and A549 cell with IC50 values of 1.08, 1.62, 0.77, and 0.87 mg/mL, which were the second or third strongest in all fractions. Additionally, HPLC analysis revealed significant differences in the compounds’ abundance between different fractions. Among them, EtOAc had the most detected compounds and the highest content. According to the results of UPLC/Q-TOF-MS, 38 compounds were identified in EtOAc, including 24 phenolic acids and 6 flavonoids. Network pharmacological analysis further confirmed 41 potential targets of EtOAc in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and intracellular receptor signaling pathways, unsaturated fatty acid, and DNA transcription pathways were the most possible mechanisms. These findings suggested that BCF was worthwhile to be developed as an antioxidant and anti-diabetic food/drug.

Diversity and use of wild edible fruits in the Bukit Rimbang-Bukit Baling Wildlife Reserve, Kampar, Riau, Indonesia

Abstract. Syamsuardi, Mukhtar E, Nurainas, Suwardi AB. 2022. Diversity and use of wild edible fruits in the Bukit Rimbang - Bukit Baling Wildlife Reserve, Kampar, Riau, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5035-5042. The Bukit Rimbang-Bukit Baling Wildlife Reserve is a protected area with a diverse ecosystem and vegetation. The area provides many ecosystem services that are critical to life, particularly for humans. The aim of this study is to document wild edible fruits and their use by the community surrounding the Bukit Rimbang-Bukit Baling Wildlife Reserve. The study was carried out in eight villages of Kampar district, Riau province, namely Tanjung Belit, Tanjung Belit Selatan, Gema, Kota Lama, Muara Bio, Muara Selayah, IV Koto Setingkai, and Sungai Rambai. This study was based on field surveys, plant collection, and interviews with the local people. Interviews were performed with 334 respondents selected by using the random sampling technique. A total of 67 wild edible fruit plant species, consisting of 29 families, have been documented in the study area. Artocarpus integer, Mangifera odorata, Mangifera foetida, Nephelium maingayi, Durio oxleyanus, Syzygium polyanthum, Pometia pinnata, Baccaurea deflexa, Garcinia xanthochymus, and Bellucia pentamera were among the plants recognized and frequently harvested by respondents. Local communities use wild edible fruits as food, either eaten raw or processed into candy, snacks, or vegetables. About 54% of the respondents reported traditional knowledge linked to wild edible fruits is transferred from the parents/grandparents to the next generations in the study area. The expansion of agricultural lands and the decline in traditional knowledge are the main threats to the sustainability of wild edible fruits in the study area.

Пути использования дикорастущих пищевых растений Приморского края (Российская Федерация)

In the flora of Primorye Territory, there are 374 species of wild edible plants from 249 genera and 93 families. Vegetative parts are mainly used for food production: leaves (193 species), shoots (102 species), stems (49 species), rhizomes (46 species), roots (24 species) and bulbs (14 species). Generative parts are used less often: fruits and seedlings (84 species), flowers (44 species), seeds (43 species). Quite rarely, buds (9 species), tubers (8 species), root cones (4 species), etc. are used. From the point of view of the timing of the collection of plant food raw materials, species collected in spring (198 species) and in summer (176 species) predominate and autumn (167 species). During the growing season, 26 species can be used, and 3 species can be used throughout the year. There are many ways to use wild food plants. Most species (about 250) are used as vegetable plants - fresh, like spring greens, for salads and soups. A lot of plants are used to obtain drinks (about 100 species), 56 species each have value as fruit plants (preparation of jam, jelly, jams, etc.) and starch plants (from which flour is obtained for addition to wheat flour). Least of all oilseeds, plants, as well as plants used for conservation and curdling of milk. Fruit plants, spring vegetables (111 species in total) can be used fresh, others need to be processed (most often thermal) before use to remove toxic and odorous substances. Keywords: WILD FLORA, FOOD PLANTS, COLLECTION TIME, WAYS OF USE, PRIMORYE TERRITORY

Plant dependency and risk management in the Andean Puna during the Mid to Late-Holocene

The archeology of the Puna, a high elevation desert in South America, gives us a long-term perspective on the role of wild plants in people’s diets during the Holocene. We explore the impact of aridification on the use of edible wild plants among desert people through the study of macrobotanical remains. Our goal is to examine the variation in plant dependency and risk management strategies used over time, in particular during the drought of the Middle Holocene (ca. 8700–4500 BP). The macrobotanical record suggests the use of risk-averse strategies in order to cope with unpredictable resource productivity. Hunter-gatherers relied on carbohydrate rich resources from the vega wetlands and tolar shrublands, such as roots and tubers, as well as low-ranked seeds, stems, leaves, and fruits. They also obtained non-local edible plants by strengthening ties and forming safety nets with groups living in different ecozones that were not subject to the same resource fluctuation. Social interaction with areas lying beyond the ecological boundaries of the Puna has a longstanding tradition in this area beginning in the Early Holocene, and was likely a means of providing food security to populations whose subsistence depended mainly on camelid hunting, and eventually camelid pastoralism. A notable increase in that interaction began during the Late-Holocene, which was a period of lesser aridity, with the introduction of corn and quinoa.

Fertilization of Pot-Grown Cichorium spinosum L.: How It Can Affect Plant Growth, Chemical Profile, and Bioactivities of Edible Parts?

Cichorium spinosum L. is a perennial wild edible plant that is usually found near the coasts of the Mediterranean basin. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the fertilization regime on the growth and chemical profile of pot-grown C. spinosum plants, as well as the effect of extraction protocol (aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts on bioactive properties). For this purpose, plants were fertilized via a nutrient solution that differed in the amounts (mg/L) of N:P:K, e.g., 100:100:100 (C111), 200:100:100 (C211), 200:200:200 (C222), 300:100:100 (C311), 300:200:200 (C322), and 300:300:300 (C333) mg/L of N:P:K, as well as a control treatment with no fertilizer added (C0). The fertilization regime had a beneficial effect on the growth parameters of spiny chicory, while it improved its nutritional value, as indicated by the polyunsaturated (PUFA)/saturated (SFA) ratio being higher than 0.45 and the omega-6 (n-6)/omega-3 (n-3) ratio being lower than 4.0. Seven phenolic compounds were detected, including two phenolic acids and five flavonoids, while a varied composition was recorded depending on the fertilization regime and the extraction protocol. In regards to the studied bioactive parameters, antioxidant activity was significantly affected by the applied fertilizers and the extraction protocol, while there was no significant effect on the cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity. The antimicrobial properties of C. spinosum showed varying trends depending on the bacterial strain, the fertilization regime, and the extraction protocol, whereas we recorded the extracts’ weak antifungal activity against the studied fungi. In conclusion, even though the fertilization of C. spinosum plants had beneficial effects on growth and nutritional value, a significant effect of the extraction protocol on the chemical profile and bioactivities of the edible leaves was also recorded, indicating the application of tailor-made fertilization regimes combined with the most suitable extraction method for the achievement of high-quality final products.

Contribution of wild edible plants to household livelihood in a semiarid Kondoa District, Tanzania

AbstractWild edible plants (WEPS) are an important source of nutrients and income particularly to poor households. However, information on how WEPS contribute to rural livelihoods varies due to heterogeneous methodologies and settings. This paper is based on a study that investigated the contribution of WEPs on rural livelihoods in semiarid Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Mixed methods were used to collect data from 343 households (14.32%), comprising six focus group discussions and six key informant interviews with district officials. Findings show that whereas 97% of households use WEPs more on subsistence basis, 8.2% use it for income generation. Income generated from WEPs accounted for about 9.16% of household income, which is somewhat closely to other sources. More or less, prices are even higher than those of corn when compared with national figures. However, income generated from sale of WEPs, though substantial, is less accounted for in household capital assets, rather than satisfying the household's basic requirements. Thus, there is a need to recognize the role of WEPs to rural livelihoods in reducing vulnerability to food insecurity and developing interventions that can improve access to use and management of natural resources.

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.

Impact of Aqueous Extracts of Turkish Wild Edible Plants on Acrylamide Formation in Potato Crisps

Background: Antioxidants have the ability to influence acrylamide formation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of aqueous extracts of six wild edible plants on the acrylamide formation in potato crisps.
 Methods: Sliced potatoes were submerged in the plant extracts at a concentration of 0, 5, and 10 g/L for 1, 5, and 10 min. Before being fried and their acrylamide levels were calculated by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
 Results: Aqueous extract of ribwort plantain was found the most effective trial at 10 g/L for 5 min because it reduced acrylamide concentration by 57% compared to control without significantly affecting potato crisps’ sensory and color parameters (p>0.05). The aqueous extract of shepherd’s-needle yielded the highest Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid; ABTS) and Cupric ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) assay, the highest Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC). Similarly, no significant correlation was found between TAC, TPC, and TFC of watery plant extracts with acrylamide level of potato crisps produced after immersion of these extracts (at 5 g/L for 5 min).
 Conclusion: Wild edible plants have the potential to be used for acrylamide reduction in potato crisps.

Nuosu Horticulturalists' Local Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants and Fungi and Socio-Economic Implications in Yunnan, Southwest China

The collection and consumption of wild edible plants (WEPs) and fungi is an important part of the foodways of many populations worldwide. Knowledge of WEPs and fungi is considered a significant component of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and is greatly impacted by social, economic, political, and cultural contexts and changes. T his study showcases a naturalistic comparison between more traditional villages and villages that were part of a government program to promote walnut production. We document the ethno-species of WEPs and fungi and analyze the corresponding socio-economic implications in an ethnic Nuosu township in the northwest region of Yunnan Province, China. Semi-structured interviews, free lists, household surveys, and cultural consensus analysis were used for data collection and data analysis. We recorded 139 ethno-species of WEPs and fungi, and consensus analysis indicates a good fit of the cultural consensus model with respect to Nuosu people's knowledge on WEPs and fungi. Quantitative analysis shows gender does not have an effect on local knowledge of WEPs and fungi, and different types of villages and travel-time required to collect WEPs and fungi are not correlated with competence scores. However, the correlation between competence scores of WEPs and fungi with gender and travel time show moderate effect-sizes. Age plays an important role in knowledge of WEPs and fungi among Nuosu people in the study township, showing that the older the person, the higher their score. This article illustrates the plight and reality of traditional knowledge about WEPs and fungi of the Nuosu people, revealing a trend that traditional knowledge is gradually changing due to social, economic, and ecological changes.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidants in vitro bioaccessibility of Coccinia grandis: an underutilized wild edible plant in Sri Lanka

Coccinia grandis (L.) J. Voigt is an underutilized wild edible plant in Sri Lanka that consists of a number of medicinal and nutritional values. Underutilized wild edibles have multiple positive health effects for humans, attributed to their bioactive compounds including minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Even though these plant extracts are enriched with a number of bioactive compounds, the bioaccessibility as well as, the bioavailability of those compounds significantly depend on the structure and the form in which they are introduced into the human body. Therefore, crude extract of C. grandis was subjected to evaluate their phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and antioxidant in vitro bioaccessibility fraction of digested samples were calculated. Organic solvents namely, ethanol, hexane and chloroform were used to extract the samples and qualitative in vitro phytochemical screening was conducted to screen for the presence or absence of the phytochemicals. Results indicate that alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, quinone, terpenoids and steroids are the available phytochemicals in every organic extract of C. grandis. Evaluation of antioxidant activity was done by two different assays such as DPPH and ABTS. In the hexane extract it was detected relatively high antioxidant activity as 0.008 mg/mL (IC50) in DPPH assay and 561.94 mg TEAC/ g in ABTS assay. Antioxidant bioaccessibility was also tested through an in vitro digestion model and a 42% bioavailability rate was indicated against the corresponding antioxidant activity in un-digested ethanol extract of C. grandis. Based on the presence of various phytochemicals and is a natural source of antioxidants, this species can be used to improve the human diet, especially for low-income people.