NUTRITIONAL AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL ATTRIBUTES OF SOME UNDER–UTILIZED TUBERS

Abstract

The wild edible tubers of Asparagus racemosus, Curculigo orchioides, Dioscorea bulbifera var. vera, Dioscorea oppositifolia var. dukhumensis D. oppositifolia var. oppositifolia, D. pentaphylla var. pentaphylla, D. tomentosa and Dolichos trilobus were analyzed for proximate and mineral composition, starch, vitamins like niacin, ascorbic acids and certain anti-nutritional factors. The tubers of D. oppositifolia var. dukhumensis contained higher quantity of crude protein. The tubers of A. racemosus and Dolichos trilobus contained higher amount of crude lipids. All the investigated wild tubers had a higher level of manganese content compared to ESADDI of infants, children and adults (NRC/NAS, 1989). The tubers of D. oppositifolia var. dukhumensis, D. oppositifolia var.  oppositifolia, D. pentaphylla var. pentaphylla and D. tomentosa were found to contain more starch. The amount of niacin were higher in the tubers of D. tomentosa, D. oppositifolia var.  oppositifolia and A. racemosus Anti-nutritional factors such as total free phenols, tannins and hydrogen cyanide were also analyzed. It was concluded that wild tubers analyzed are a viable food source.