Studies on Nutritional Values of Some Wild Edible Plants from Iran and India

By A. Aberoumand, S. Deokule. 2009

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The most important nutrients present in plants are: carbohydrates, such as the starch and free sugars, oils, proteins, minerals, ascorbic acid, and the antioxidant phenols. The Plants Alocacia indica Sch.,Asparagus officinalis DC., Chlorophytum comosum Linn., Cordia myxa Roxb., Eulophia ochreata Lindl., Momordica dioicia Roxb., Portulaca oleracia Linn. and Solanum indicum Linn. are widely wild in many regions of Iran and India. These are consumed as fruits and vegetables. Therefore, to analyze the nutritional values in them, these plants are selected. Association of the Official Analytical Chemists Methods and FolinCiocalteau micro method are used for nutritional analysis of the plants. Results indicated that Portulaca oleracia Linn. and Asparagus officinalis DC have high amounts of proteins, fats and calorie values. Therefore, these plants are recommended for consumers as vegetables in their diet. The most of the Iranian and Indian people are using these plants in their daily diet. Kew words: Nutritional values, edible plants, India, Iran Introduction Fruits are important sources of minerals, fiber and vitamins, which provides essential nutrients for the human health. In addition, it is known that some fruits have the so-called ‘anti-nutritional’ factors (e.g. Phytic acid and Tannins) that can diminish the nutrient bioavailability, especially if they are present at high levels (Spiller, (2001), Nevertheless, it has been reported that these anti-nutritional factors could help to prevent and treat several important diseases; remarkably, the anticarcinogenic activity of Phytic acid has been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo assays. The most important nutrients present in plants are: carbohydrates, such as the starch and free sugars, oils, proteins, minerals, ascorbic acid, and the antioxidant phenols, such as Chlorogenic acid and its polymers. These molecules are involved in pathogen resistance in plants, and the Chlorogenic acid concentration represents about the 90% of the total phenolic compounds in plants (Ekanayake and Nair, 1998). Protein malnutrition is a major public health problem in the developing world. The major food crops being roots and tubers hence the diets in these parts are predominantly starchy. The trace elements, together with other essential nutrients, are necessary for growth, normal physiological functioning, and maintaining of life; they must be supplied by food, since the body cannot synthesis them. The exact classification of trace versus macro minerals is not clear cut, but traces are often considered as minerals required by the body in amounts less than 100mg daily. While some of them are vitally important for health, the roles of others are unclear. Recommended intakes have been set for some trace elements and their deficiency can lead to disease, but a lack of others does not cause any recognized problems. To decide whether a micro-nutrient is “essential” or not, several criteria are used, such as the presence of the nutrient in healthy tissue, if it appears in the fetus and newborns and if the body maintains homeostatic control over its uptake in the bloodstream or tissue and its excretion (Janab and Thompson, 2002; Reddy, 2002). Plants, which are sources of Phytochemicals with strong antioxidant activity, have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. Antioxidants, which inhibit the oxidation of organic molecules, are very important, not only for food preservation, but also for the defense of living systems against oxidative stress (Masuda et al., 2003). Phenolic antioxidants interrupt the propagation of the free radical autoxidation chain by contributing a hydrogen atom from a phenolic hydroxyl group, with the formation of a relatively stable free radical that does not initiate or propagate further oxidation processes (Kaur and Kapoor (2001). Dietary fiber (DF) plays an important role in decreasing the risks of many disorders such as constipation, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diverticulosis and obesity (Spiller, 2001). Plant foods are the only sources of DF. All the fractions (cellulose, lignin, hemi cellulose, pectin, gums and mucilage) of DF are the major constituents of plant cell wall (Roberfroid and Selvendran, 1984). Dietary fiber is subdivided into Insoluble (IDF) and soluble (SDF) dietary fiber depending on their solubility in water. However, the DF can be grouped into two major types (a) soluble/viscous/fermentable and (b) insoluble/nonviscous/slowly fermentable. Recently, FAO/WHO Aberoumand and Deokule: Studies on Nutritional Values of Some Wild Edible Plants from Iran and India 27 discussion document on carbohydrates recommended Mineral content: Mineral content was analyzed with a dropping the terms “soluble” and “insoluble” fiber (FAO, 1998). The physiological effects of total dietary fiber (TDF), in the forms of insoluble and soluble fractions of foods, have a significant role in human nutrition. Indian diets predominantly consist of a variety of plant foods such as cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables (GLV), roots, tubers, other vegetables, fruits, oil seeds, spices and condiments. Fruits are consumed in various forms like fresh, dried, frozen or canned. The polysaccharides comprising a major part of DF in fruits and vegetables are beneficial to healthy human volunteers, since the consumption of fiber lowers plasma cholesterol levels (Holland et al., 1998; Gillman et al., 1995). reported protective effect of fruits and vegetables against the development of stroke in men. Addition of fruits and vegetables to the regular diet of infracted survivors resulted in a decreased mortality and subsequent infarctions. Therefore, the dietary fiber may play a major role in determining the health and disease conditions of different population groups. Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP ), commonly known as 6 phytate, is a major component of plant storage organs such as seeds, roots and tubers, where it serves as a phosphate source for germination and growth (Reddy, 2002). Due to its ability to chelate and precipitate minerals, phytate can decrease the bioavailability of critical nutrients such as zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium in foods such as whole grains, nuts and legumes (Weaver and Kannan, 2002), At the same time, phytate may have beneficial roles as an antioxidant, ant carcinogen and more (Janab and Thompson, 2002). Materials and Methods Sample preparation: Selected wild edible plants were collected from various localities of Maharashtra (India) and Iran. Three wild edible plants were collected from India viz Alocacia indica, Momordica dioica and Eulophia ochreata in September 2006. Five wild edible plants were collected from Iran viz Asparagus officinalis, Chlorophytum comosum, Codia myxa, Portulaca oleracia and Solanum indicum were collected from Iran in October 2006 and April 2007. Efforts made to collect these plants in flowering and fruiting conditions for the correct botanical identification. Healthy and disease free edible plant part/s selected and dried them under shade so as to prevent the decomposition of chemical compounds present in them. All the dried material powdered in blander for further study. Proximate composition: Ash and fat contents were assayed by the Association of the Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC, 1984) Methods 14004, 14009 and 14006, respectively. Nitrogen was determined using the Kjeldahl method (Matissek et al., 1989) The quantity of protein was calculated as 6.25×N (method 7015, AOAC, 1984). Perkin-Elmer (optima) 3000 DV analyzer with induction coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES) (Eknayake and Nair, 1998). The sample (2g) was digested with 20ml concentrated nitric acid (BDHAristar) until a transparent solution was obtained. The instrument was calibrated with known standards and samples analyzed at corresponding wavelengths. Fivepoint standard curves were made for all analyzed minerals using reference materials. Linear regression analysis of the standard curves indicated they were linear with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.997–0.999. Selenium was determined as hydride using a hydride generator (VGA-76). The samples digested in HNO were mixed with concentrated HCl and 3 heated to 70 to90EC for 10min and cooled before injection into hydride generator followed by NaBH4. Determination of phytate content: The phytate content was determined by the method of (Wheeler, and Ferrel (1971), based on the ability of standard ferric chloride to precipitate phytate in dilute HCl extracts of the vegetables. Determination of total phenolic compounds: Total phenols were extracted by heating a weighed portion (50–500mg) of dried sample with 5ml of 1.2M HCl in 50% aqueous methanol for 2h at 90EC and analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteau micro method (Slinkard, and Singleton, 1977), Results were expressed as mg of Gallic acid per 100g of dried plant material. Determination of calorie: The first total sugars content will be calculate, then total calorie value will be calculate. total calorie value is equal with fat calorie + protein calorie + sugars calorie. Each gram fat give 9 kcal, each gram protein give 4kcal and each gram sugar give 4kcal. Results and Discussion Many studies have been done by various research workers all over the world by selecting one or more plants particularly leaves, fruits, roots, stem, food plants and so on but rarely by selecting a particular family. In this investigation works pertaining to seven different families (Araceae, Liliaceae, Boraginaceae, Orchidaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Portulacaceae and Solanaceae) are selected. Sodium values of eight samples in this study in order to mg/g were obtained 4.4, 1.84, 3.95, 1.62, 1.62, 1.51, 7.17 and 1.51 respectively (Fig. 1). Calcium values of eight samples in order to mg/g were obtained 0.88, 0.67, 13.14, 0.46, 7.37, 0.46, 18.17 and 4.48 respectively (Fig.1). Potassium values of eight samples in this research in order to mg/g were obtained 3.4,

Subfields: Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Food Science

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