Ethno Botany and Nutritional Status of Some Edible Plants of South Odisha, India

The present paper reports ethno botanical use and nutrient analysis of 16 edible plants of South Odisha under 15 genera and 16 species. Various ethnic groups and rural people consume 12 wild species, 2 cultivated species and 2 species that are wild as well as cultivated. The taxa include 10 dicotyledonous species under 10 genera and 10 families while monocot includes 6 species under 5 genera and 5 families. The edible plant species include 9 herbs, 2 twiners and 5 tree species. Most of these plants are used by the tribal people at the time of food scarcity. Analysis of nutritive value such as crude protein, total sugar, total lipid, vitamin B1 and vitamin C content of edible plants revealed that leafy vegetable Moringa oleifera (6.6%) showed highest crude protein and highest total lipid (0.013mg g-1) content while tuber of Dioscorea oppositifolia (30.8%) showed highest total sugar content. Highest vitamin B1 is shown by leafy vegetable Glinus oppositifolius (0.0015 mg g-1). Fruit plant Phyllanthus emblica (5.16 mg g-1) showed highest vitamin C content. Some of these edible plants may be used as food security, economic growth as well as medicine that are required in small quantity to cure some of the diseases the tribal people suffer from. Suggestion has been made for improvement, conservation of these edible plants for future potential.