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VOL. 10, ISSUE 11 (2025)
Study of five wild edible plants and their comparison with cultivated plants in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh
Authors
Manoj Verma, Umesh Durvey, Ravi Upadhyay
Abstract
Wild edible plants (WEPs) serve as valuable nutritional resources for
tribal populations and contribute substantially to food security and
traditional health care systems. The present study evaluates the nutritional
composition of five wild edible plants, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus
viridis, Colocasia esculenta (leaves), Bauhinia purpurea
(flower buds), and Dioscorea bulbifera (tubers), collected from forest
regions of Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India. These plants were
analyzed for proximate composition (moisture, protein, crude fiber, ash,
carbohydrates) and mineral content (iron and calcium) using standard AOAC
(2019) methods. The nutritional values of these samples were compared with
cultivated vegetables (Spinacia oleracea and Brassica oleracea var.
botrytis). Results showed that wild plants had significantly higher protein
(18.2–27.4%), crude fiber (9.1– 14.5%), and ash content (8.8–12.5%) than
cultivated vegetables. Mineral analysis revealed that wild plants contained 2–3
times greater concentrations of iron (10.3–18.2 mg/100 g) and calcium (130–220
mg/100 g) compared to cultivated species. Amaranthus viridis exhibited
the highest protein content, while Chenopodium album showed maximum
calcium concentration. The study concludes that wild edible plants possess
superior nutritional value and represent a sustainable, low-cost food resource
suitable for improving dietary diversity and combating micronutrient
deficiencies in tribal and rural populations. The findings encourage the
promotion and conservation of wild edible plants as part of community nutrition
programs.
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Pages:45-48
How to cite this article:
Manoj Verma, Umesh Durvey, Ravi Upadhyay "Study of five wild edible plants and their comparison with cultivated plants in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 10, Issue 11, 2025, Pages 45-48
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