Buragohain and Brahma Available Ind. J. Pure online App. at Biosci. www.ijpab.com (2020) 8(5), 493 -502 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8383 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 493-502 Review Article Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Open Access Journal Nutritional and Medicinal Value of Some Underutilized Vegetable Crops of North East India- A Review Nayanmoni Buragohain1* and Sanchita Brahma2 1Assistant Professor, Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali, Assam 2Assistant Professor, Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, AAU, Dhubri, Assam *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 9.09.2020 | Revised: 17.10.2020 | Accepted: 26.10.2020 ABSTRACT To provide safe, healthy and nutritious source of food for poor income group and undernourished population is still a big challenge for our country. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand of antioxidant, calories and protein rich quality, healthy, nutritious food by the health conscious modern people. Underutilized vegetable crops are important source of valuable nutritional and medicinal component. These are cheaper and affordable than the exotic imports. Exploitation of these wild resources is an important way of income and food, especially for the poor farmers who are also underemployed. Keywords: Nutritional value, Medicinal value, Underutilized, Vegetables, North East India. INTRODUCTION the population is tribal. The primary factor for The Northeastern India is a chicken-necked their economy is agriculture, contributing up region connected to the mainland with a to 45% of the total economy of the region. narrow corridor and touching the international Northeast India has a subtropical boundaries of Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, climate that is influenced by its relief and Bhutan and Nepal. The region comprises eight influences from the southwest and States namely; Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast monsoons. Temperatures are Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, moderate in the Brahmaputra and Barak valley Tripura and Sikkim. These eight States cover river plains which decreases with altitude in an area of 2, 62,179 sq. km. constituting 8 per the hilly areas. At the highest altitudes, there is cent of country's total geographical area and permanent snow cover. The southwest account for only around 3.76 per cent of the monsoon is responsible for bringing 90% of total population and 3.87 per cent of country's the annual rainfall to the region. April to late output. The common features of the region are October is the months where most of the ecosystem diversity, poor accessibility, rainfall in Northeast India occurs with June ethnicity and rich biodiversity. About 80% of and July being the rainiest months. Cite this article: Buragohain, N., & Brahma, S. (2020). Nutritional And Medicinal Value of Some Underutilized Vegetable Crops of North East India- A Review, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(5), 493-502. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8383 Copyright © Sept.-Oct., 2020; IJPAB 493 Buragohain and Brahma Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 493-502 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 The vegetable crops which are neither grown 98% and Chromium 32.5% respectively i.e. commercially on large scale nor traded widely the plant contains a higher concentration of may be termed as underutilized crop. These Iron, Manganese, Sodium and Potassium, crops are cultivated, traded and consumed moderate levels of Copper and Zinc and lower locally. These crops are popular among the levels of Phosphorus. (Sree & Vijayalakshmi, people in vermicular names which vary from 2018). As the minerals Mn, Zn, Mg, Cu, Fe, locality to locality. These are easier to grow Na, K, Ca and traces of chromium present in and hardy in nature and can withstand adverse recommended amounts, A. sessilis may be climatic and soil condition. Some of these are beneficial for diabetic patients. Traditionally, found to grow in association with cultivated the leaves of the plant have been used in the crops while others grow in wild state. Most of treatment of skin and eye ailments, cuts and them are very rich source of minerals, wounds and as an antidote for snake bite. vitamins, anti oxidant and other nutrients like (Subhasini et al., 2010). Also used to cool carbohydrate, proteins and fats, sometimes down the body, useful in diarrhoea, fever and even more than that of conventional anemia. vegetables. Also they are cheap and within the Amaranthus viridis L. (Slender reach of the poorer section. As the local Amaranthus/tropical green Amaranthus): peoples have been consuming these Commonly called as „Choulai‟ in Hindi underutilized vegetable for a long time they and „Khutura‟ in assamese, Amaranthus viridis are very much aware about their nutritional L. belongs to Amaranthaceae family. An and medicinal values. annual herb with stems erect or occasionally The North eastern region of India ascending, about 10-80 cm long. The tender constitutes one of the biodiversity hotspots of shoots and leaves are eaten cooked. It is a the world supporting around 50% of India‟s good source of vitamins and mineral. The biodiversity. A wide range of vegetable crops proximate analysis of edible portion indicates are grown in this region which includes that it contain (g/100g) ash- 20.20, Moisture solanaceous vegetable, cucurbitaceous, okra, 88.01, crude protein 2.29, carbohydrate 7.96, various kinds of beans, tubers and root crops, crude fiber 0.25, calorific value 541.33 kcal, spices, cole crops and some species of leafy ascorbic acid 13.40 mg/100g, β-carotenoid vegetable. The wild relatives that occur in this 6.54 mg/100g and minerals like iron 118.13, region have potential for exploitation in crop zinc 6.10, copper 2.40, manganese 224.46, improvement. In this review nutritional and sodium 94.66, potassium 73.08, calcium 66.70 medicinal values of some of the selected and magnesium 16.70 mg/100g on dry weight underutilized vegetables of north east region of basis. The antioxidant activity analysis by India are discussed. DPPH has been found to be 92.95% and Nutritional and medicinal value of some phenolic content 2.53 mg/100 g. (Saha et al., selected underutilized vegetables: 2015). The plants contain an appreciable Alternanthera sessilis (Ponangani Greens amount of nutrients and can be included in /Alternanthera): Alternanthera sessilis is an diets to supplement our daily nutrient needs important green leafy vegetable species and to fight against many of the diseases as belongs to Amaranthaceae family. Leaves and nutraceuticals. This has been used in Indian tender shoots are used as vegetables. The and Nepalese traditional system to reduce leaves are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, labor pain and act an antipyretic. The Negritos carotene, vit. C, riboflavin, niacin and crude of the Philippines apply the bruised leaves fiber. A. sessilis showed of macro and directly to eczema, psoriasis and rashes etc. micronutrients availability in RDA percentage Other traditional uses range from an anti- as Sodium 95%, Potassium 94.6%, Calcium inflammatory agent of the urinary tract, 63.7%, Phosphorus 6 %, Magnesium 66%, venereal diseases, vermifuge, diuretic, Zinc 89%, Iron 98%, Copper 80%, Manganese antirheumatic, antiulcer, analgesic, antiemetic, Copyright © Sept.-Oct., 2020; IJPAB 494 Buragohain and Brahma Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 493-502 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 laxative, improvement of appetite, antileprotic, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Singh et al., treatment of respiratory and eye problems, 2011). treatment of asthma etc. Furthermore, the plant Colocasia esculanta (Arvi/Kochu): Corms, possesses antiproliferative and antifungal runners and tender leaves of Colocasia properties as well as ribosome inactivating esculanta are used as vegetable that belongs to protein, β-carotene and antiviral activity. In Araceae family and very popular in North east addition the whole plant possesses analgesic India. Taro tuber are important source of and antipyretic properties and is used for the carbohydrates and contain about 70-80% treatment of pain and fever, respectively in starch, relatively low in protein (1.5%) and fat traditional systems of medicine. (Sharma et al., (0.2%), good source of ash (1.2%), thiamine, 2012). riboflavin, iron, phosphorous, zinc and a very Chenopodium album (Bathua): This is good source of vit. B6, vit. C, niacin, primarily a weed of agronomic and potassium, copper and manganese (Quach et horticultural crops, nurseries and occasionally al., 2003). The taro leaves are also rich in pastures belongs to Chenopodiaceae family. protein (23%) and minerals like Ca, P, Fe and In India this grows abundantly during winter vitamins. The high level of dietary fiber found season and the young leaves and shoots are in the taro leaf are also advantageous for their used as leafy vegetable. In Assam it is active role in the regulations of intestinal popularly known as „jilmil sak‟. C.album is transit, increasing dietary bulk and faeces very rich in various nutrients like proteins, consistency due to their ability to absorb water vitamins like Vit. A, Vit. C, Vit. B complex (Anan & Plahar, 1995). Taro starch is easily (Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamine) and minerals digestible, good for peptic ulcer patients, like iron, potassium, phosphorous and calcium. patients with pancreatic disease, chronic liver Also rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. problems, inflammatory bowel disease and It has got medicinal properties like gall bladder disease (Emmanuel et al., 2007). anthelmintic, antiphlogistics, antirheumatic, As taro corm have high amount of beta- contraceptive, laxative, odantalgic etc. Also carotene it will impart vitamin A and used in the treatment of bug bites, sunstroke, antioxidant property in the body. The tubers urinary problems, skin problems etc. It is also contain anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-glucoside rich in substance called saponins and and in common with flavonoids, the related flavonoids which control diabetes, prevent anthocyanins are reputed to improve blood cancer, reduce obesity and protect our heart.