Biochemical studies of weed plants used as leafy vegetables by tribes and people of Chhattisgarh with special reference to the secondary metabolites confer nutraceutical properties
A.K.Shrivastava, Suneeta Patra* and Deepti Chauhan**
Govt. D.T. College, Utai, Durg, Chhattisgarh (India) *Govt. N.P.G.College of Science, Raipur, Chhattisgarh (India) **Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh (India) Corresponding author e-mail: deeptibotany@gmail.com Mob. 9009683175
ABSTRACT
Wild edible plants not only provide food and fodder but also make significant contribution to the nutrition requirements life forms throughout the year. Leafy vegetables are the major sources of the nutritional components of the tribal and local population in remote parts of the Chhattisgarh. In present study photochemical screening of eight wild leafy vegetables i.e. Amaranthus viridis L., Boerhaavia diffusa L., Cassia tora L., Cleome viscosa Linn., Corchorus trilocularis Linn., Ipomoea aquatica Frosk., Oxalis corniculata L., Portulaca oleracea Linn.; commonly consumed by the tribal and local people of Chhattisgarh. The results of the study showed that all the selected wild leafy vegetables contain tannins. Moreover, Alkaloids and Flavanoids were also present in all the selected plants except O. corniculata and C. viscosa, respectively. On the other hand, saponins were absent in O. corniculata and C. viscosa. Terpenoids were present in A. viridis, B. diffusa, C. viscosa, P. oleracea. However, Glycosides were found absent in C. trilocularis, P. oleracea and C. viscosa. The overall results revealed that I. aquatica possessed the highest nutritional value and A. viridis, B. diffusa are rich in majority of phytochemical classes of compounds. Comparatively however, O. corniculata shows lowest nutritional and therapeutic potential due to the absence of majority of phytoconstituents.