Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol.11 (1), January 2012, pp. 66-69 The ethnobotany and nutritional values of wild rice [Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz. ex Stapf] (Poaceae) in Manipur Alka Jain1, H Birkumar Singh1* & PR Bhattacharyya2 1North-East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Substation, Lamphelpat 795 004, Imphal, Manipur, India 2North-East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR), Jorhat 785 006, Assam, India *E-mail:
[email protected] Received 30.07.10; revised 29.01.11 Wild rice [Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz ex stapf.)], locally called ‘Kambong’ or ‘Ishing-kambong’ (in Manipuri) is an aquatic/wetland plant of Manipur and is used for various purposes by the ethnic people ranging from food to fodder, thatch roofing, firewood substitute, house wall plastering material, etc. The infected gall forming culm (infected with the fungus Ustilago esculenta P. Henn.) is highly eaten by the local people of Manipur and regarded as delicacy and fetching Rs 28-55 per kg and is a source of livelihood for a section of rural populace. The galls are nutritious with protein (8.13%), carbohydrate (13.82%) and with other micro and macro-nutrients. The edible part of the plant is also having good antioxidant properties like total phenolics (84.1 mg GAE/g dry weight of plant), total flavonoides (7mg QE/g dry wt of plant) and antiradical power value of 10.4. Presence of toxic arsenic (0.09 ppm) in wild rice is much below the permissible limit and hence quite safe for consumption. The tender shoot of this plant is fondly eaten by Cervus eldi eldi McClelland, a critically endangered deer species of the world and also the ‘state animal’ of Manipur.