Antioxidant activity and nutritional assessment of under-utilized medicinal plants

The present study investigates the nutritive and anti-nutritive composition of six species (allium porrum amaranthus spinosis,apium graveolens,caralluma edulis,chenopodium album,urtica dioica). the studied species contained considerable amount of crude protein (4.53-11.41%),crude fat (1.25-3.74%),vitamin c (7.85-28.09mg 100-1 g) and ββ-carotene (18.29-169.33mg 100-1g). the mineral profile of chenopodium album is considered as potential source of zn (14.51±1.14mg 100-1g),mn (67.71±0.85mg 100-1g),se (8.45±0.49mg 100-1g) and fe (182.08±1.52mg 100- 1g) and caralluma edulis as potential source of fe (7.28±0.03mg 100-1g). ca and p content ranged 63-306mg 100-1 g and 12-392mg 100-1 g in all studied plants with exceptionally high level was found in chenopodium album (1084mg 100-1g) and (3924mg 100-1g),respectively. similarly,total phenol,tannin and phytic acid were found in the range of 105-354,5- 90 and 10-85mg 100-1g,respectively. total oxalates and soluble oxalates contents were below 200mg 100-1g in five examined plants with the exception of chenopodium album (413mg 100-1g). antioxidant activity of caralluma edulis was found maximum while the rest of the examined plants had moderate levels.