Phytochemical Analysis of Selected Indigenous Wild Edible Fruits Used by the Kattunaikka Tribe of Wayanad District, Kerala, India

Wayanad district, located in the northeastern part of Kerala state, features hilly terrain within the southern Western Ghats. The district boasts impressive ethnic diversity, with ten different tribal groups. Among these, the Kattunaikka tribe is particularly significant for their conservation and consumption of wild edible fruits. Fruit crops have been a part of our culture for centuries. Ethnic people all over the world have relied on a variety of wild food plants to meet their nutritional and dietary needs. Fruits have a significant role in human diets. They meaningfully contribute to human well-being in terms of nutrition because of their great nutritional value. Seasonal surpluses of perishable fruits are readily available. Among the wild foodstuff, wild edible fruits form a major part of diet supplements, especially for rural people. Large quantities of agricultural produce go to waste in specific locations during particular seasons due to a combination of factors, including ignorance and a lack of management skills in distribution, marketing, and storage. To spread the word about nutritional and therapeutic benefits of these fruits, present investigation has been carried out. The selected wild edible fruits, such as Tamilnadia uliginosa, Diplocyclos palmatus, Momordica dioica, Physalis minima and Syzygium caryophyllatum were collected from different hamlets of Kattunaikk tribes of Wayanad District, northern Kerala at the time of ripening. Several factors were similar, including how moisture, dry matter, carotenoids and carbohydrates were assessed. Additionally, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were thoroughly analyzed. Important metabolites like reducing sugar, starch, and soluble sugar are estimated with standard procedure. Selected five wild fruits are considered edible and commonly used by rural people in Northern Kerala.