Nutritional Evaluation and Mineral Elements Analysis of Threatened Medicinal Plants Boucerosia indica (Wight & Arn.) Plowes and Caralluma adscendens (Roxb.) R. Br. var. fimbriata Gravely & Mayur

Plants are the rich source of all the nutrients, minerals and elements essential for human beings. Explorations of less known edible plants should be carried out and their cultivation, using modern agricultural practices, may supplement our requirement of food. Technical studies on their nutritional values are needed before they can be suggested as sources of non conventional foods to boost food supply. Boucerosia and Caralluma species are xerophytic succulents belonging to the Apocynaceae family with approximately 100 species distributed worldwide. These plants are found in drier regions of India and used as a part of famine food and for antiobeity. Boucerosia indica and Caralluma adscendens var. fimbriata, being succulent, showed high percentage of moisture content, minimizing the amount of total solids to a meager. Ash content was found to be moderate. By the present research we found considerable concentrations of various major and minor mineral elements such as: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, but low levels of Chromium and Lead respectively. The above two plants contained low levels of Fat, moderate amounts of Protein and Fibre, rich source of Carbohydrate. Finally the Nutritive value is very high in both the plants.