Nutritional composition, phytochemicals, antioxidant and antibacterial study of some underutilized wild edible plants consumed as food by Gaddis: A tribal community of Western Himalayas

The study objective was to examine the nutritional content, phytochemicals, antioxidant analysis, and antibacterial activity of traditionally underutilized wild edible plants, viz. Polygonum polystachyum Wall. ex Meisn., Polygonum hydropiper L., Thymus serphyllum Linn., Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, Prunus persica (L.), and Juglans regia Linn., eaten as food by the tribal community of Bharmour District Chamba. The nutritional composition of these plants was analyzed as crude fats, potassium, sodium, crude fiber, protein, and carbohydrate. Higher nutritional composition occurred in leaves of P. hydropiper as compared to other studied species. The highest carbohydrate content was observed in P. hydropiper (12.28%), followed by P. persica (9.92%), F. esculentum (6.5%), J. regia (6.26%), and T. serphyllum (6.0%), and the lowest was in P. polystachyum (5.19%). Protein content was also highest in P. hydropiper (11.02%). Sodium and potassium contents were recorded highest in P. hydropiper, i.e., 5.49 mg/g and 25.47 mg/g, respectively. Crude fiber content in studied species ranged between 12.46 and 20.4% and was highest in P. hydropiper and lowest in P. polystachyum. J. regia had the highest fat content (2.15%). Phytochemical factors such as ascorbic acid, phenol, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, alkaloids, and phytate content were also estimated. Leaves of F. esculentum exhibited the highest amount of ascorbic acid (2.26 mg/g), phenol (20.63 mg/g), flavonoids (9.51 mg/g), and tannins (1.05 mg/g). Phytochemical analysis showed F. esculentum exhibited more phytoconstituents. We evaluated the antioxidant capacity in all the test plant species by using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging. The highest radical scavenging activity was recorded in F. esculentum. Antibacterial activity of these wild plants towards E. coli and S. aureus was evaluated. Methanolic extract of F. esculentum had the highest antimicrobial potency towards E. coli (23.96 mm) and S. aureus (22.13 mm) in comparison to other studied species. The results of the present study suggested that collected wild plants were rich sources of nutrients, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties. Therefore, these plants may contribute enormously to diet, food safety, health, and remedial benefits for Gaddis people in Western Himalayas.