Proximate composition and antioxidant potentiality of underutilized and neglected edible plants for sustainable development in food security

Abstract

Abstract For decades, indigenous people of rural regions have been consuming wild edible plants as food and medicines. Wild edible plants are neglected and underutilized food plants whose utilization is only restricted to a specific location. It is also referred as Future Smart Foods. Nutritional analysis can provide valuable insights into the potentiality of native wild edible plants as sustainable and nutritious food source. This study aims to analysis the proximate and elemental composition, and antioxidant activity of underutilized and neglected plants in Tripura. In our findings, relatively high carbohydrate, protein and fats content was observed in Oroxylum indicum (13.34±0.29), Trachyspermum roxburghianum (10.43±0.19) and Flacourtia indica (4.25±0.28) respectively. The highest Total energy was recorded in Flacourtia indica (107.97 Kcal). The highest moisture and ash content was observed in Alpinia nigra (94.95%) and Trachyspermum roxburghianum (42.16%) respectively. The quantitative concentration (Wt %) of six micronutrients (Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe and Cl) reveals that the highest was observed in potassium (K) i.e. 34.15% (34.15 mg/gm) in S. pennata. The free radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extracts showed that L. leucocephala possessed high antioxidant activity (IC50 =125.4±1.78). The nutritional values may be helpful for these underutilized crops to encourage future conservation plans and assess the level of dietary supplement dependency of the local communities. Therefore by promoting the cultivation and consumption of underutilized crops, we can support local communities and accomplish sustainable development in food security.