Abstract

Biochemical analysis was made for major nutritional components of eight non-conventional leafy vegetables and scarcity food plants of north east india, most of which occur in the wild. Crude protein content varied from 12.24 to 28.80%. Total carbohydrate varied from 5.35 to 18.80%. Lipid content was found to be low and varied from 2.06 to 6.16%. Total mineral content in the form of ash were found to be impressive and ranged from 11.58 to 24.58% with the exception of Vitex nigando, where it was only 6.05%. Calorific values varied from 108.9 to 215.46 Kcal/100 g. Methionine and tryptophan content varied in the range of 1.28 to 2.62 and 0.81 to 1.36 g/100 g protein respectively. The present findings show that many wild and non-conventional leafy vegetables, which are traditionally used by various ethnic groups of North East India and popularly referred to as “poor man’s food” are in fact nutritionally very rich which necessitate rethinking about these neglected food plants.

Key words: Non-conventional food plants, leafy vegetable, nutritive value, crude protein, carbohydrate, lipid, crude fibre, ash.