TITLE:
A New Approach for Identifying Potentially Effective Indigenous Plants Consumed by Chenchu Tribes and Their Nutritional Composition-India
AUTHORS:
Sreenivasa Rao Jarapala, Godha Shivudu, Korra Mangathya, Anita Rathod, Hrusikesh Panda, Pendli Kalyan Reddy
KEYWORDS:
Chenchu Tribes, Indigenous Foods, Malnutrition, Government Policies
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
4,
2021
ABSTRACT: Traditional knowledge of plants and their properties
always has been transmitted from generation to generation through the natural
path of everyday life. Food habits of the indigenous population across the
globe are very abnormal when compared to that of civilized people. The forest
related tribal scientific studies of edible wild plants are extremely
constructive to know the nutritional values of the forest indigenous foods and
help to eliminate the malnutrition problems in vulnerable group. The existing
study was undertaken with an intention and documented 34 exceptional plant
species belonging to 15 families with their medicinal values, taxonomical names
and nutritional profile. Among the 34 indigenous plant foods, the frequently
available and consumed plant foods by particularly vulnerable tribal group
Chenchu tribes were selected for nutritional investigation including proximate
composition, mineral and vitamin analysis. Results show that the nutritional
values of the edible indigenous plant foods are prominent compared to
frequently consumed foods available in market. The present study observed that
the conventional and nutritional information on wild plant foods is on sharp
decline. Unless efforts are made to educate the present generations about the
importance of these foods, which may be lost in near future. These studies
could contribute significantly to Government policies to improve food security
and helps to progress health and nutritional status in marginally deprived
tribal communities in India, and in the enhancement of wild vegetable status,
whose potential as sources of nutrition is currently undervalued.