Diversity of wild edible plants, nutrition and phytochemical evaluation of certain plants with ethnobotanical importance from Tinsukia district,  Assam, India

Saikia Pankaj; Baro Daimalu; Bawri Amal; Doley Biswadeep; Basumatary  Sanjay; Nayak  Nipen; Adhikari Arjun

doi:10.14719/pst.3261

Authors

Saikia Pankaj Department of Chemistry, Tinsukia College, Tinsukia-786 125, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2750-2707
Baro Daimalu Department of Botany, Tinsukia College, Tinsukia-786 125, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6937-8990
Bawri Amal North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (An Autonomous Institute under Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India), Pasighat–791 102, Arunachal Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1120-1994
Doley Biswadeep Department of Zoology Tinsukia College, Tinsukia-786 125, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6333-0680
Basumatary Sanjay Department of Chemistry, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar 783 370, BTR, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5135-3197
Nayak Nipen Department of Zoology Tinsukia College, Tinsukia-786 125, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2036-8577
Adhikari Arjun Department of Botany, Madhab Choudhury College, Barpeta-781 301 Assam, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5007-6634

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3261

Keywords:

mineral profile, phytochemicals, Tinsukia, traditional knowledge, wild edible plants

Abstract

The present study was conducted in 2021-2023 and recorded a total of 96 species, out of which 56 % were used as vegetables, 30 % as edible fruits and 7 % as masticatory, spice and condiments. This study also aims to evaluate the nutritionally important minerals concentration and phytochemical constituents of 5 plant taxa, i.e., Sarcochlamys pulcherrima (Roxb.) Gaud., Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum Edgew., Smilax perfoliata Lour., Portulaca oleracea L. and Phlogacanthas thyrsiformis (Hardw.) Mabb. which are widely used in folk healing practices and folk medicine by the various ethnic communities of Tinsukia district. The concentration of 5 macro minerals Na, K, Ca, Mg and P is in the range of 12.5 -18.4, 90.4 -246.9, 140 -214.3, 84.9 - 112.2, 23.7 - 41.2 mg/100 g respectively. The ratio of K/Na (5.9:1 to13.4:1), Ca/P (4.1:1 to 9.1:1) and K/(Ca+Mg) (0.11:1 to 0.32:1) are found to be adequate ratios ranging from respectively. Microminerals like Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Ni are found in the range between 5.90 -16.17, 0.41-0.91, 0.13 -0.32, 0.07 -0.27 and 0.07 - 0.17 mg/100 g respectively. Some of the important phytochemicals are also found to be present in the analyzed plants. The study shows that consumption of these species may be beneficial for maintaining good mineral nutrition among the common people at a minimum cost.

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