Studies on Nutritional Values of Some Wild Edible Plants from Iran and India

The most important nutrients present in plants are: carbohydrates, such as the starch and free sugars, oils, proteins, minerals, ascorbic acid, and the antioxidant phenols. The Plants Alocacia indica Sch.,Asparagus officinalis DC., Chlorophytum comosum Linn., Cordia myxa Roxb., Eulophia ochreata Lindl., Momordica dioicia Roxb., Portulaca oleracia Linn. and Solanum indicum Linn. are widely wild in many regions of Iran and India. These are consumed as fruits and vegetables. Therefore, to analyze the nutritional values in them, these plants are selected. Association of the Official Analytical Chemists Methods and Folin-Ciocalteau micro method are used for nutritional analysis of the plants. Results indicated that Portulaca oleracia Linn. and Asparagus officinalis DC have high amounts of proteins, fats and calorie values. Therefore, these plants are recommended for consumers as vegetables in their diet. The most of the Iranian and Indian people are using these plants in their daily diet.