Original Articles
Tapan Seal
Abstract
The nutritional composition and minerals content of some wild edible plants of different botanical families growing in the Meghalaya state, India e.g the bulb of Dioscorea bulbifera, the underground stem of Homalomena aromatica, flowers of Phlogacanthus curviflorus, leaves of Medinilla erythrophylla, Ardisia humilis and fruits of Careya arborea, used by the local tribal people were analysed. For different plant species the crude fat content ranged between 0.17±0.008-1.39±0.03 %. The crude protein content was found to be the highest in the leaves of Ardisia humilis (12.71±0.33%) while the available carbohydrate content was the highest in the fruits of Careya arborea (88.08±0.23%) and very good amount of it was foundin Dioscorea bulbifera and in Phlogacanthus curviflorus. The energy content ranged from 296.37±1.83- 388.03±0.56 kcal /100g in various wild edible plants. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plant samples of different wild edible plants, calcium was present in the highest quantity (7.42±0.18 -17.87±0.20 mg/g) followed by potassium (3.16±0.16-16.88±0.17 mg/g) and sodium (0.22±0.01- 0.98±0.02 mg/g). Whereas the micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and chromium were also analyzed in different plant specimens. The results indicated that these wild edible plants under investigation could be a good supplement for protein, carbohydrate, sodium, potassium and calcium were richer than that of the commercial vegetables and could be used for nutritional purposes.