Assessment Of The Therapeutic Potential Of Wild Edible Leafy Vegetables In The Rampachodavaram Agency Division, Asr District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Wild edible plants play a crucial role in the livelihoods of communities residing in agency areas. In many remote regions, people continue to rely on plants available in their natural surroundings for food, medicine and shelter. A significant number of wild edible leafy vegetables possess medicinal properties and are used to treat common ailments. This paper examines the ethno-medicinal properties of 60 species of traditionally used leafy vegetables. These plants address approximately 18 disease categories including antidote, deworming, ENT disorders, fever, kidney stones, liver problems, piles, small-pox etc. Regular consumption of these vegetables may serve as an alternative source of medicinal compounds while providing nutritional benefits. The data are quantified, highlighting key species of wild leafy vegetables as both food and medicine. Conservation of these species and the indigenous knowledge associated with them is imperative. Further analysis of their bioactive constituents could facilitate their integration into routine clinical practice.