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Research Journal of Botany

Year: 2011 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 58-67
DOI: 10.17311/rjb.2011.58.67
Nutritional Composition of Wild Edible Fruits in Meghalaya State of India and Their Ethno-botanical Importance
Tapan Seal

Abstract: This study was carried out to analyze the nutritional value of some wild edible fruits like of Morus indica Linn. (Moraceae), Myrica nagi Thunb (Myricaceae), Myrica esculenta Buch-Ham ex D. Don. (Myricaceae), Parkia roxburghii G. Don (Mimosaceae), Prunus nepalensis Ser (Steud) (Rosaceae) and Terminalia bellerica Roxb (Combretaceae), by determining proximate and phytochemical composition using standard method of food analysis like AOAC. The present study revealed that for different plant species the crude fat content ranged between 1.36±0.04-5.07±0.05%. The crude protein content was determined highest in the fruits of P. roxburghii (19.75±0.03%) while the available carbohydrate content was highest in M. indica (84.04±0.12%). The nutritive value ranged from 366.57±0.62-395.04±0.54 kcal/100 g in the various wild edible fruits. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plant samples of different wild edible plants potassium was present in the highest quantity (7.28±0.10-12.73±0.12 mg g-1) followed by calcium (4.23±0.07-9.75±0.11 mg g-1) and sodium (0.395±0.005-1.01±0.01 mg g-1). Micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and chromium were analyzed in the different plant specimens. The result indicates that nutritional values and mineral contents of these wild fruits under investigation were richer than that of the commercial fruits and very much comparable with the various wild fruits reported earlier. The present study also gives an account of ethnobotanical importance of the wild fruits under investigation.

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How to cite this article
Tapan Seal , 2011. Nutritional Composition of Wild Edible Fruits in Meghalaya State of India and Their Ethno-botanical Importance. Research Journal of Botany, 6: 58-67.

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