Nutritional analysis of selected species of Alternanthera Forsskal (Amaranthaceae)

Alternanthera Forsskal (Amaranthaceae) is an underexploited genus with potent medicinal activities exhibiting biotic and abiotic tolerance, survival with basic minimal requirements, with a palatable taste and free of insecticides or pesticides. Here, we analyzed selected species of these under-utilized plants for various nutrients to enable identification of unconventional food resources. Among the species investigated, Alternanthera sessilis showed high amount of energy rich nutritional factors, such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. High content of aminoacids and flavanoids have been observed in A. sessilis and A. philoxeroides. Alternanthera versicolor recorded higher amount of vitamin A while A. tenella showed the least. Vitamin C content was predominantly high in all the species investigated. Regarding pigment composition, highest chlorophyll content was noticed in A. philoxeroides followed by A. sessilis; the least amount in A. tenella. The concentration of carotene was high in A. sessilis. With regard to antinutritional assays, A. sessilis and A. philoxeroides exhibited only low level of phytic acid and majority of them had low tannic acid content. These two species possess high nutritional and low level of antinutritional factors. All the species studied revealed comparatively high amount of phenol. With their demonstrated nutritional qualities with low level of anti-nutritional factors, it can be suggested that A. sessilis and A. philoxeroides be included in the dietary menu along with other conventional leafy vegetables. Further, these nutritive herbs can be advocated for domestication and thereby effective utilization.

In vitro propagation of a rare medicinal fern of Western Ghats – Diplazium esculentum (Reytz.).

Present study aimed for in vitro culture of circinate part of young leaves of D. esculentum which is amongst the leafy vegetables consumed as vegetable by Paniya and Chetti tribes of Western Ghats. The circinate part of young leaves (crosiers), excised before the beginning of foliar expansion, was inoculated on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and cytokinin 6- benzylaminopurine (BA) in a range 0.5 to 2.5 mg L-1. Combinations of different concentrations of 2,4 D + BA, IBA + BA as well as of NAA+ BA were also tested in half strength MS medium with 3% sucrose and with pH 5.8. The best morphogenic response was obtained with half strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D 0.5 mg L-1 and BA 2.5 mg L-1, 3% sucrose, at pH 5.8. For rooting of the microshoots, half strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D ( 2 and 1 mg L-1 ) exhibited best results. Present study reports the successful in vitro culturing of D. esculentum.