Nutritive Value and Mineral Composition of Edible Caralluma and Boucerosia Species from the Arid Areas of Karnataka

Plants have been very important to humans as a source of food and medicine through the ages. As nutrition science is moving from the concept of adequate nutrition to optimal nutrition, new foods and plants are being studied for improving the health status of mankind. Caralluma and Boucerosia species are xerophytic succulents belonging to the Apocynaceae family with approximately 100 species distributed world wide. It is found in India and used as a part of the traditional medicine - carminative, anthelmintic, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, appetite suppressants etc. Certain edible species that are found in Karnataka include Caralluma adscendens var. adscendens, C. adscendens var. fimbriata, C. stalagmifera and C. umbellata. In present study, the nutritive values of some of the randomly species from a few prominent locations (mainly arid) in Karnataka – Chitradurga, Chickmagalore, Tumkur, Hassan and Davangere have been reported. The percentages of components including Ash %, Moisture %, Fat %, Fiber %, Protein % and Carbohydrate % as well as the macro- and micronutrients (Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Copper) were estimated. Results indicated that the analyzed species of Caralluma possesses good nutritive values and are quite rich in protein and carbohydrate content.