PJB-2023-203
INVENTORY AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF WILD VEGETABLES CONSUMED BY THE PEOPLE OF HAJIRA, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN
Khurram Ashfaq Khan
Abstract
Wild vegetables play an important role in the diet of rural people of Hajira, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan. However, there is a lack of data regarding the inventory and nutritional status of these indigenous wild vegetables. This study focused on documentation of list of wild vegetables consumed in the study area and proximate analysis of 5 frequently used wild vegetables. A total of 50 indigenous plants belonging to 31 families were recorded that local inhabitants used as vegetables. Asteraceae and Fabeaceae were the most dominant families. According to frequency of citation, Taraxacum officinale, Cichorium intybys, Soncus asper, Nasturtium officinale and Rumex dentatus were the most reported plant species and further selected for nutritional analysis. The highest proteins were found in C. intybues (47.56%), highest carbohydrate in T. officinale, and highest fibers in S. asper (15.30%). The highest energy value was recorded for R. dentatus (259.74 Kcal/100g) followed by C. intybus (250.72 Kcal/100g), S. asper (240.59 Kcal/100g), T. officinale (240.74 Kcal/100g) and N. officinale (236.10 Kcal/100g). In conclusion, there is a diversity of plants which are still present that are used as vegetables by the local inhabitants of Hajira, Azad Kashmir. Further mineral analysis, biological assays and phytochemical screening of these plants can be performed for better scientific interpretation of traditional knowledge of these plants.
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