Nutraceutical potential of wild food used by Gaddis a Tribal community of Western Himalaya

Abstract

newline x newlineABSTRACT Wild edible plants play a significant role in the livelihood of inhabitants of Himalaya. They generally depend on the wild edible plants for their medicines, food, fodder, fuel, timber making agriculture tools, religious and various other purposes. The present study was carried on Nutraceutical potential of wild edible plants used as food by Gaddis: a Tribal community of Western Himalaya . Migratory shepherds move throughout the year in Himalayan region for grazing to their flocks. They started their downward movement from Bharmour region of Chamba district in month of October. In the month of November they reached Palampur in Kangra district. From Palampur shepherds migrate to Mubarikpur forest area of Una district, here they settle temporarily from December-February. For upward movement shepherds start their journey from Una in February to reach Khanyara region in Kangra district. In the Khanyara region shepherds settle from March to April and again migrate to Bharmour region by Quarsi pass. In the month of June they reached to Bharmour region and settle here about from June-July and moved to the District Lahaul spiti by Kugti pass. newlineThe documentation of migration route and wild edible plants used by migratory shepherds were studied during field visits by interacting with shepherd groups. Interactions revealed that the migratory shepherds had good knowledge about wild edible plants and they knew how to use them. A total of 49 wild edible species were consumed by shepherds during their migration from higher to lower region and vice-versa. The habit of studied plants were herbs, shrubs, trees, climber, fern and fungus. Herbs constituted maximum percentage (57%), followed by trees (21%), shrubs (16%) and 2% each of climber, fern and fungus. Among 49 edible species the maximum consumed edible plant parts were fruit (31%), followed by young leaves and shoot (29%), leaves (24%), flower and stem (4% each) and nut, seed, fruiting body, frond (2% each). Maximum number of edible plants belongs to Rosaceae family followed by 7 species of Polygonaceae family and of Caryophyllaceae and Moraceae family 4 each. These species were eaten as cooked vegetables, fruits, spices, chutney and pickle. All collected plants exhibited the nutritional values but maximum was recorded in Morchella esculenta. The plants consumed by shepherds were also studied for their nutraceutical value and their antimicrobial potential. The edible plant part i.e fruit had the maximum nutraceutical value followed by young leaves and shoot. Maximum amount of phytochemicals were recorded in fruit of Elaeagnus umbellata. In terms of the antioxidant activity the highest radical newlinexi newlinescavenging activity was observed in fruit of Elaeagnus umbellata which was collected from Bharmour region of district Chamba. In terms of antibacterial activity maximum zone of inhibition of methanolic plant extracts was recorded against gram positive bacteria i.e. Staphylococcus aureus as compared to the gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). Among two fungal strains maximum percentage inhibition of mycelium growth was in Rosellinia necatrix by methanolic extract of Rhododendron arboreum and Thymus serphyllum showed maximum percentage inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum mycelium growth. newlineKeywords: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, migratory shepherds, nutrition, phytochemicals, wild edibles.