Phytochemical and Nutritional Analysis of Wild Edible Fruit of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. used by the Tribes of Bhiwapur Tahsil of Nagpur District, (M.S.), India

Abstract

Abstract
Wild edible fruits play an important role in human life and are the important constituents of the traditional diet. Due to their easy availability, these fruits are very commonly utilized by the tribal population. The study aimed to understand the utilization of wild fruit of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. The contemporary investigation marked to access the nutritional and phytochemical analysis of full-grown fruits of a widely known medicinal plant of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. The study includes the estimation of ash content, protein, carbohydrate (sugar), vitamins and mineral contents (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, Na, K) of ripened fruit Diospyros melanoxylon commonly called as (Tembhurni). The water extract was screened for the qualitative phytochemical analysis. The fresh fruits were found to be a rich source of protein (7.13±0.11 g/100 g), carbohydrate (16.35±0.15 g/100 g) fibre (54.05±0.23 g/100 g) and energy. The Na/K and Zn/Cu ratio were found to be 0.022 and 0.56 which may attribute the medicinal properties in cardiovascular disorders. The water extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, sterols, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins and polyphenols, and flavon flavonoids. The nutritional and phytochemical analysis reveals that these fruits are the rich source of energy and are used by the tribal and deprived poor people of Bhiwapur Tahsil.
Keywords: Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., nutritional, phytochemical, tribe

Cite this Article
Laddha Chetna S., Kunjalwar Sushil G., Itankar Prakash R. Phytochemical and Nutritional Analysis of Wild Edible Fruit of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. used by the Tribes of Bhiwapur Tahsil of Nagpur District, (MS), India. Research and Reviews: Journal of Botany. 2016; 5(1): 19–24p.