NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED WILD EDIBLES IN TRIBAL DIETS OF MEGHALAYA STATE

This study evaluated the nutritional potential of five wild leafy vegetables—Gnetum gnemon, Prenanthes hookeri, Smilax perfoliata, Blumea lanceolaria, and Pilea melastomoides—collected from Meghalaya, India. Proximate and mineral composition analyses were performed to determine their nutritional value. Crude fat content ranged from 0.94 ± 0.03 to 5.25 ± 0.05%, while crude protein was highest in P. hookeri (21.62 ± 0.07%), G. gnemon (21.49 ± 0.02%), and P. melastomoides (18.69 ± 0.03%). S. perfoliata showed the highest available carbohydrate content (73.49 ± 0.03%), and energy values ranged from 308.44 ± 0.19 to 397.38 ± 0.49 kcal/100g. Among minerals, potassium was most abundant (15.63 ± 0.23–47.31 ± 0.25 mg/g), followed by calcium (12.52 ± 0.04–28.16 ± 0.04 mg/g) and sodium (0.30 ± 0.002–0.42 ± 0.005 mg/g). Micronutrients such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and magnesium were also quantified. Results indicate that these wild edible plants possess higher nutritional and mineral content compared to many commercial vegetables, supporting their use in traditional diets and nutritional applications. The study also highlights their ethnobotanical significance in Meghalaya.