Impact of Weather on Nutrient and Phytochemical Content of A. nigra – a Potential Green of Assam

The present study assesses the effect of weather on nutrient and phytochemical variation of Alpinia nigra (Local name-Tora). Based on the rich flora of highly valued medicinal plants in Assam, this research work considered the medicinal plant A. nigra for evaluating the suitable weather for consumption of the green to ascertain the optimum concentration of the nutrients and non-nutrient constituents responsible for medicinal properties and to provide scientific basis (time of collection/harvesting) for therapeutic purposes of the plant. The studied sample was collected during the dry season (December-January) and rainy season (March-April) for the investigation. The edible part i.e shoot was analyzed using standard procedures. A decreasing trend was observed for all the evaluated nutrients-moisture, fat, protein, iron, calcium, potassium & vitamin C except carbohydrates and fibre in the dry season sample compared to rainy season sample. Phytochemicals were found to increase from rainy to dry season-Alkaloids (dry – 150.00 mg & rainy – 215.00 mg), Flavonoid (dry – 30.17 mg & rainy – 54.14 mg) and phenol (dry – 53.10 mg & rainy – 120.17 mg). The results of the present study thus revealed that the green should be harvested and consumed during rainy season from nutritional, functional as well as therapeutic point of view.