International Journal of Botany Studies

International Journal of Botany Studies

ISSN: 2455-541X, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.12
www.botanyjournals.com
Volume 1; Issue 4; May 2016; Page No. 32-36

A review: Underutilized wild edible plants as a potential source of alternative nutrition

Jyotsna Salvi, Katewa SS
Laboratory of Ethnobotany and Agrostology, Department of Botany, University College of Science, Mohanlal Sukhadia
University, Udaipur (Rajasthan), India.

Abstract
Today, it has been a big challenge to provide safe, healthy and nutritious source of food for poor income group and
undernourished population of the developing world. Due to scarcity, high cost and unreliable supply of healthy food in the
developing and underdeveloped countries have resulted in the find out the cheap and alternative source of healthy and nutritious
food. Some of the underutilized wild edible plants (such as Canavalia, Mucuna, Rhynchosia, Afzelia, Brachystegia and Detarium
for example) have been analyzed and found to possess high nutritional value. Review of literature available revealed that most of
the plant species are a good source of nutrition and some have medicinal properties. Use of underutilized wild edible plants helps
in the fight to malnutrition associated problems and increasing the health status of the rural population. This review also focused
on commercial exploitation of the underutilized wild edible plants such as a source of dietary supplement, for new food
formulations, bio fortification, and in product development.

Keywords: Underutilized, wild edible plants, potential source, alternative, nutritional value

1. Introduction underutilized species can make an important contribution to

Global food security and economic growth now depends on a better diet for local communities.
a declining number of plant species. In human history, 40-
100,000 plant species have been regularly used for food, 2. Ethnobotanical observations on underutilized wild
fibers, shelter, industrial, cultural and medicinal purposes [1]. edible plants
However, only a small number of plants are widely used. A) At International Level
The remaining plant diversity is underutilized [1, 2]. Ahmad and Javed [7] conducted research on selected
Underutilized plants contribute immensely to family food underutilized plant species in Ayubia National Park,
security and serve as means of survival during times of Pakistan. They found six most prominently used medicinal
drought, famine, shocks and risks [3]. They can also and food species viz. Adhatoda vasica, Artemisia scoparia,
supplement nutritional requirements due to their better Galium aparine, Amaranthus viridis, Hedera nepalensis and
nutritional value [4, 5]. Urtica dioica that gain little attention in scientific research
With alarming increase in human population and depletion and also by local community, were selected as underutilized
of natural resources, it has been felt necessary to explore the species. Diversity of the neglected and underutilized crop
possibility of use of new plant resources having potential for species of Benin (West Africa) was studied by Dansi et al [6].
food, fodder, energy and industrial uses. They reported 41 neglected and underutilized crop species
Many neglected and underutilized species are nutritionally (NUCS) among which 19 species were identified as of
rich and adapted to low input agriculture. The erosion of priority base on 10 criteria among which included their
these species can have immediate consequences on the extent and degree of consumption.
nutritional status and food security of the poor [6]. Their Abubakar et al. [8] studied sixty underutilized flowering plant
enhanced use can bring about better nutrition and fight species as vegetable from the field in the Federal Capital
hidden hunger. For example, many underutilized fruits and Territory (FCT) Abuja of Nigeria. Osewa et al. [9]
vegetables contain more vitamin C and pro-vitamin A than investigated uses of neglected and underutilized plant
widely available commercial species and varieties. species in akinyele local government area of Oyo state,
The use of plants has long been an intimate part of local Nigeria. Tebkew et al. [10] recorded 33 underutilized wild
cultures and traditions. Many neglected and underutilized edible plants in the Chilga district, northwestern Ethiopia. Of
species play a role in keeping alive cultural diversity the recorded plants, 45% were trees. Fruits (76%) were the
associated with food habits, health practices, religious rituals most frequently used plant parts.
and social exchanges. Focusing attention on neglected and
underutilized species is an effective way to help a diverse B) At National Level
and healthy diet and to combat micronutrient and Nayagum et al. [11] recorded 27 species of less known wild
deficiencies, the so-called ‘hidden hunger’ and other dietary edible fruits with their local name, habit and uses. Singh and
deficiency particularly among the rural poor and the more Gupta [12] and Jain and Sinha [13] studied life support species
vulnerable social groups in developing countries. In reality, used by rural people under extreme environment condition.
local communities have used these plant species for Sundriyal and Sundriyal [14] reported six plant species of
generations but the current loss of local knowledge means underutilized wild edible plants as a food i.e. Machilus
that their traditional uses are being forgotten. Many edulis, Spondias axillaris, Elaeagnus latifolia, Diploknema
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[29]
butyracea, Baccaurea sapida and Eriolobus indica. A Afolabi evaluated proximate composition,
survey of less known wild edible plants used by Gujjar tribe physicochemical properties and mineral elements of the seed
of district Rajori, Jammu and Kashmir state was carried out and oil of Chrysophyllum albidum.
by Rashid et al. [15]. Bhatt et al. [16] reported that flowers and
buds of Crotalaria tetragona are cooked as vegetable and B) At National Level
used in garnishing of local food preparation especially in Maikhuri [30] studied nutritional value of some lesser known
non-vegetarian recipes in the north-eastern hill region of wild food plants and their role in tribal nutrition in North
India. India. They studied Alpinia malaccensis, Angiopteris evecta,
Diversity of underutilized vegetable crop species in Calamus tenuis, Cyathea gigantea, Dendrocalamus
Manipur, North- East India was documented by Singh et al. hamiltonii, Dioscorea bulbifera, Pinanga gracilis,
[17]
. Terangpi et al. [18] reported Gnetum gnemon and Sphenoclea zeylanica, and Wallichia densiflora. They
Rhynchotechum ellipticum as less known plants. These reported that Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dioscorea
plants were used by Karbi ethnic group in Assam, Northeast bulbifera and Cyathea gigantea forms the most important
India. Deb et al. [19] documented 41 species of underutilized part of their diet. The maximum food energy was obtained
crops of three districts of Nagaland (India). from Dioscorea bulbifera (21.28 mj kg-1) and minimum
from Wallichia densiflora (6.7 mj kg-1). Sphenoclea
3. Nutritional value of underutilized wild edible plants zeylanica was found to be rich in all minerals as compared
A) At International Level with the other plants.
Onweluzo et al. [20] studied on isolation and characterization The dried bamboo shoots are reported to contain energy 302
of protein of some lesser known tropical legumes i.e. Afzelia kcal, protein 25.3 g, fat 3.3 g, fibre 9.5 g, carbohydrate 42.8
africana, Brachystegia eurycoma, Detarium microcarpum g, calcium 208 mg, phosphorus 569 mg, iron 12.5 mg,
and Mucuna flagellipes. The proteins of Detarium riboflavin 0.09 mg and niacin 3.8 mg per 100 g [31]. Duhan et
microcarpum and Mucuna flagellipes contain more of high al. [32] studied nutritional value of some non-conventional
molecular weight globulins. Protein profile of Afzelia plant foods of India. They studied thirteen non-conventional
africana legumes shows a predominance of albumin. Sena et foods including fruits, leaves and grains consumed in
al. [21] analyzed nutrient components of some famine food various parts of the Indian subcontinent and were analysed
plants of the republic of Niger. They studied nutrient content for their nutritional value. Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) beans,
leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Pinju (Capparis decidua) and Kachri (Cucumis spp.)
Moringa oleifera, Leptadenia hastata, Hibiscus sabdariffa, contained considerable amounts of protein (15–18%). Kachri
Amaranthus viridis and Adansonia digitata. was rich in fat (13%). Bhakri (Tribulus terrestris), Gullar
Barminas et al. [22] studied mineral composition of six non- (Ficus glomerata) and Peehl (Salvadora oleoides) were
conventional leafy vegetables i.e. Moringa oleifera, found to be rich sources of calcium. Gullar contained about
Adansonia digitata, Colocasia esculenta, Corchorus tridens, 15 times the amount of calcium present in wheat.
Cassia tora and Amaranthus spinosus. They found highest Phosphorus content of Santhi (Boerhavia diffusa), Khejri
iron content in Amaranthus spinosus and Adansonia digitata beans, Bhakri, Pinju and Lehsora (Cordia dichotoma) were
as compared to the commonly used Nigerian vegetables. noticeable. Zinc was present in high amounts in Peepalbanti
Freiberger et al. [23] investigated the nutritional role of wild (Ficus religiosa) and Gullar; as was iron in Santhi and
underutilized plants in the Nigerian diet. Dolezal et al. [24] Bhakri and manganese in Santhi. Besides iron, zinc and
investigated chemical composition of less- Known wild calcium, Pinju contained appreciable amounts of -carotene
fruits i.e. chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Cornelian and vitamin C. However, Boerhavia diffusa contained high
cherry (Cornus mas), Barberrry (Berberis vulgaris), Scarlet amounts of oxalic acid.
firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), Russian olives (Elaeagnus Rao [33] has worked on nutrient composition of some less
angustifolia), Mayhaw (Crataegus monogyna), Rowan berry familiar oil seeds of Andhra Pradesh. Seeds of Xanthium
(Sorbus aucuparia), Madlar (Mespilus germanica), Rose strumarium, Guizotia abyssinica, Nicotiana tabacum and
hips (Rosa canina) and Sloe berry (Prunus spinosa). Allium cepa were found to be good sources of protein and
Pugalenthi et al. [25] studied the nutritional potential of an fat. Analysis of lesser known pulses of genus Canavalia and
underutilized legume Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and current genus Mucuna showed that the seeds of investigated
state of its utilization as food/feed for both human beings materials contained higher amounts of crude protein, crude
and livestock throughout the world. fat and energy content when compared with most of the
Bhat and Karim [26] studied Nutritional Potential of Wild and commonly consumed Indian pulses. They were rich source
Underutilized Legumes. Aberoumand [27] investigated of minerals such as Na, K and Ca [34, 35]. Bhargava et al. [36]
nutritional and bioactive components of an under exploited analyzed different edible parts of seven bamboo species for
food plant Alocasia indica. Its stem is consumed as their nutrient contents viz., total carbohydrates, proteins,
vegetable in some part of Iran. Ng et al. [28] studied five vitamins C and minerals. It was found that among all the
underutilized wild vegetables namely Limnophila edible parts, total carbohydrate content was highest in the
aromaticoides, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Crassocephalum seeds of Bambusa arundinacea (38.0%), proteins in the
crepidioides, Etlingera elatior and Monochoria vaginalis seeds of Dendrocalamus strictus (13.54%) and vitamin C in
and were analyzed for nutritional value, phenolic the seeds of Bambusa arundinacea (50mg/100g).
components and antioxidant activities. These wild green Siddhuraju et al. [37] studied chemical composition and
were found to have high fibre (11.3 - 19.8 g / 100g) and ash nutritional characteristics of seeds of Mucuna pruriens. They
(13.0 - 17.6 g / 100g) contents as compared to found mature seeds contained 314.4 g/kg crude protein, 51.6
commercialized species, Brassica juncea. Osamudiamen and g/kg crude fiber, 67.3 g/kg crude fat, 41.1 g/kg ash, and
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International Journal of Botany Studies

525.6 g/kg carbohydrates. Potassium, phosphorus, and Under - utilized food legume Rhynchosia Cana, Rhynchosia
calcium registered higher concentrations compared with the filipes, Rhynchosia rufescens and Rhynchosia suaveolens
most commonly consumed pulses. The globulins and were analyzed for proximate composition, mineral profiles,
albumins together constituted the major storage proteins vitamins, fatty acid profiles, amino acid profiles of seeds,
(22.7 g/100 g of seed flour). Sankhala et al. [38] studied less protein digestibility and antinutritional factors. The crude
familiar leaves consumed by the tribals of Udaipur region. protein ranged from 14.28 - 19.40%, crude lipid 3.28 - 4.
They studied proximate composition, iron, calcium, β- 41%, total dietary fibre 6.39 - 8.44%, ash 2.80 - 3.50% and
carotene, vitamin-C and oxalic acid contents of leaves of carbohydrate 60.29 - 72.51% [46]. Kunwar et al. [47] studied
Portulaca oleracea, Boerhavia diffusa, Commelina relative importance of 49 underutilized plant species by
benghalensis, Amaranthus spp., Chenopodium album, Vigna using relative importance (RI) technique. They divided plant
catjang, Moringa oleifera, Cassia tora and Trianthema species in to six categories based on consumption. They
monogyna. found 22 plant species appeared in multiple use categories,
Kala and Mohan [39] studied nutritional and anti-nutritional while the rest were characterized by single used category.
potential of genus Mucuna. They found higher amounts of Jain and Tiwari [48] studied nutritional value of some
crude protein and crude lipid when compared with most of traditional edible plants used in emergency i.e. during
the commonly consumed pulses. The fatty acid profiles scarcity of food by Gond and Sahariya tribes of central
revealed that the seed lipids contained a higher concentration India. Tresina and Mohan [49] find out the proximate
of palmitic acid and linoleic acids. Amino acid profiles of composition, mineral profile, vitamins, protein fractions,
Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens revealed that the seed protein fatty acid profiles and amino acid profiles of total seed
contained relatively higher levels of certain essential amino protein, in vitro protein digestibility and antnutritional
acids and rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, potential of legume Mucuna. Kalita et al. [50] evaluated
magnesium, phosphorus, iron and manganese. Anti- Nutritional Potential of Five Unexplored Wild Edible Food
nutritional substances such as total free phenolics, tannins, 3, Plants from Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot Region
4- dihydroxyphenylalanine, phytic acid, hydrogen cyanide, (India). The studied unexplored wild food plants namely,
trypsin inhibitor activity, oligosaccharides and Piper pedicellatum C. DC (leaves), Gonostegia hirta (Blume
phytohaemagglutinating activity were investigated. ex Hassk.) Miq. (Leaves), Mussaenda roxburghii Hook.f
Mohan and Kalidass [40] described the nutrition and (leaves), Solanum spirale Roxb. (Leaves and fruits) and
antinutritional value of 23 unconventional wild edible plants. Cyathea spinulosa Wall. ex Hook. (Pith portion and tender
These plants were analyzed for proximate and mineral rachis) from East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh
composition, starch, vitamins, in-vitro protein digestibility Northeast (India) for ascertaining their suitability for
(IVPD), in-vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) and certain utilization as supplementary food. Khomdram et al. [51]
antinutritional factors. The tubers of Kedrostis foetidissima studied Nutritional composition of two underutilized wild
and stem of Caralluma pauciflora contain higher contents of edible fruits of Elaeagnus pyriformis and Spondias pinnata.
crude protein. All 23 wild edible plants appeared to have a
higher level of iron content compared to recommended 4. Conclusion
dietary allowances (RDA) of NRC/NAS [41] for infants, From the ongoing research worldwide, and with the current
children and adults. database it is evident that underutilized wild edible plants
Nazarudeen [42] studied nutritional composition of some possess high nutritional value. These plants were used to
lesser - known fruits used by the ethnic communities and various cuisine and to flavour, garnish, or complement other
local folks. They reported 218 species of wild edible fruit foods. These plant species were good source of vitamins and
plants from forest of Kerala. Out of 218 wild edible fruits, minerals, but have now become less important. Most of this
10 fruits based on their individual merit and desirability traditional knowledge only survives in the memory of the
were analyzed for their nutritional value and compared with elderly and is now in danger of vanishing. This paper
10 common cultivar fruits. Paulsamy et al. [43] studied attempts to compile and disseminate that knowledge in order
nutritional properties of Elaeagnus kologa which is to help maintain cultural traditions and facilitate research
underutilized edible and endemic fruit plant in Nilgiris of the into food history and new food sources.
Western Ghats. These plants should be explored further for overcoming
Vadivel and Pugalenthi [44] evaluated effect of various protein - energy malnutrition, particularly in the developing
processing methods on the nutritional value, antinutritional world. Application of modern processing methods along
compounds, biological value and protein quality of dehulled with incorporation of traditional knowledge will definitely
seeds of an under-utilized tribal food legume, Tamarindus provide a substantial base for the commercial exploitation of
indica. Murthy and Emmanuel [45] studied nutritional and these plants for developing new foods (or for
antinutritional properties of the underexploited wild legume biofortification), as well as for use in the pharmaceutical
Rhynchosia bracteata Benth. They investigated that legumes industry. Application of modern biotechnological methods
contained higher amount of crude protein, crude fat, ash and might provide sufficient support to develop transgenic plants
nitrogen free extractives constitute 20.18, 6.16, 6.12 and with less antinutrients or toxicological factors in the
61.31% respectively. The legumes are rich in magnesium, underutilized wild edible plants. Still, a wide gap in our
iron potassium and phosphorous. Antinutritional factors such knowledge exists with regard to exploring the actual gene
as total free phenols, (3.76%) tannins (0.29%), L -DOPA pool, in evaluating beneficial secondary metabolites,
(0.51%), hydrogen cyanide (0.066%) and phytic acid phytochemicals, and other nutritional features in these
(0.18%) are present in variable quantities in legumes. underutilized wild edible plant resources.

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