Nutritional value, phytochemicals and antioxidant property of six wild edible plants consumed by the Bodos of North-East India

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plants are known to contain minerals and many bioactive compounds which provide several health benefits on consumption. OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to assess the nutritional composition, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of six wild edible plants consumed by the Bodos of North-East India and the plants are Sphenoclea zeylanica, Cardamine hirsuta, Natsiatum herpeticum, Sphaerantus peguensis, Melothria perpusilla, and Persicaria chinensis. METHODS: Proximate composition of the plant was determined following AOAC method. Mineral contents were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Phytochemical screening of methanol extracts were performed following standard procedures and several assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the plants. RESULTS: The investigation showed that all the six plants have variable quantities of proximate and mineral compositions. The phytochemical screening of methanol extracts revealed the presence of a number of medicinally active secondary metabolites. Among the six wild edible plants, M. perpusilla displayed a better antioxidant property showing the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity, maximum FRAP value, highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation indicate that these wild edible plants are good sources of minerals and natural antioxidants to be incorporated as functional ingredients of food.