Realizing the potential of indigenous vegetables through improved germplasm information and seed systems

Taylor, Mary; Kambuou, R.; Lyons, Graham; Hunter, Danny; Morgan, Emily; Quartermain, A. R.; Robert, Nanche Billa; Paofa, J.; Lorens, Adelino; Tuia, V.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2015.1102.3

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Since the 1940s the consumption of high-energy, low-nutrient foods, including white flour, sugar and polished rice by Pacific Islanders, combined with reduced exercise, has resulted in alarming rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers [1,2]. Indeed, around 70% of deaths in Pacific Island countries (PICs) are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [3][4][5].…”

Section: Epidemic Of Non-communicable Diseases (Ncds)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasing awareness and generating interest must be met with availability of supply, whether planting material for home gardens or on a larger scale for farmers to produce for markets and tourism outlets [2]. Suitable planting material of the selected species was supplied via ALD nurseries on each atoll.…”

Section: Awareness Program and Planting Materials Provisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Tuvalu, secondary bush was cleared, a water tank and irrigation system installed on Funafala island, Funafuti atoll and nutritious food crops grown to supply nearby Vaiaku, the main population center. This highlights the need for more resources to be devoted to conservation of diverse leafy food plants, starchy root crops, and fruits in the Pacific region [2,89].…”

Section: Awareness Program and Planting Materials Provisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When available, indigenous vegetables are usually inexpensive and thus affordable to most people in both urban and rural areas. Despite this, they are often overlooked and regarded as “low status foods” [ 1 , 2 ]. However, they are important for human health, being nutritious and rich in protein, minerals, vitamins (e.g., A, B, C, K), beneficial phytocompounds, and fiber [ 10 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Lyons

Dean

Tongaiaba³

et al. 2020

Plants

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Pacific Islanders have paid dearly for abandoning traditional diets, with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) widespread. Starchy root crops like sweet potato, taro, and cassava are difficult to grow on the potassium-deficient soils of atolls, and high energy, low nutrient imported foods and drinks are popular. Nutritious, leafy food plants adapted to alkaline, salty, coral soils could form part of a food system strategy to reduce NCD rates. This project targeted four atolls south of Tarawa, Kiribati, and was later extended to Tuvalu. Mineral levels in diverse, local leafy food plants were compared to reveal genotype–environment interactions. Food plants varied in ability to accumulate minerals in leaves and in tolerance of mineral-deficient soils. Awareness activities which included agriculture, health, and education officers targeted atoll communities. Agriculture staff grew planting material in nurseries and provided it to farmers. Rejuvenation of abandoned giant swamp taro pits to form diversified nutritious food gardens was encouraged. Factsheets promoted the most suitable species from 24 analyzed, with multiple samples of each. These included Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (chaya), Pseuderanthemum whartonianum (ofenga), Polyscias scutellaria (hedge panax), and Portulaca oleracea (purslane). The promoted plants have been shown in other studies to have anti-NCD effects. Inclusion of the findings in school curricula and practical application in the form of demonstration school food gardens, as well as increased uptake by farmers, are needed. Further research is needed on bioavailability of minerals in plants containing phytates and tannins.

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Section: Epidemic Of Non-communicable Diseases (Ncds)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Awareness Program and Planting Materials Provisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Awareness Program and Planting Materials Provisionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Lyons

Dean

Tongaiaba³

et al. 2020

Plants

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“…One way to meet the challenge of food security is by leveraging underutilized wild plants. According to FAO research, approximately 1 billion people in underdeveloped nations rely on edible uncultivated plants (Taylor et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional evaluation, phytochemical makeup, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of wild plants utilized as food by the Gaddis-a tribal tribe in the Western Himalayas

et al. 2022

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Nowadays, it is generally accepted that medicinal plants play a crucial role in traditional healthcare operations, providing hints to new research fields and in biodiversity protection. However, there is a lack of information on the medicinal uses of plants in many of the interior Himalayan regions. In light of this, the current investigation was initiated in the tribally dominant western Himalayan hinterland. The current study examined five underutilized wild edible plants, namely, Allium rubellum, Berberis chitria, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Stellaria aquatica, and Rheum emodi, for their nutritional qualities, phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity, which are consumed as food by the Gaddi community of the Bharmour region of the Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh. In this study, the nutritional makeup of these plants was examined in terms of their carbohydrate, protein, sodium, potassium, crude fiber, and fat content. As compared to other investigated species, A. rubellum has the highest nutritional content: carbohydrate (6.93 mg/g), protein (10.18 mg/g), sodium (3.21 mg/g), potassium (16.32 mg/g), and fiber (6.46%). In addition, phenols, amino acids, tannins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and phytate were found to be the least significant phytochemicals in R. emodi, i.e., 4.81 mg/g, 0.594 mg/g, 2.204 mg/g, 1.482 mg/g, 156 µg/g, and 0.680%, respectively. The methanolic extract of these wild edible plants showed significant free radical scavenging activity by using ABTS and DPPH assays. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of studied plants based on the present study suggested that R. emodi exhibits a maximum zone of inhibition of 20.8 mm against Escherichia coli, whereas S. aquatica showed a maximum inhibition zone of 19.2 mm against S. aureus. The findings of this study validated that these wild edible plants are an alternate source of medicine and are an abundant source of various phytochemicals like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These compositions offer dietary benefits, food security, health benefits, and therapeutic advantages. Hence, in the current study, it was analyzed that there is an urgent need for documentation, conservation, characterization, and evaluation of these underutilized plants for their therapeutic purpose and nutritional supplements.

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Nutritional evaluation of Kedrostis africana (L.) Cogn: An edible wild plant of South Africa

Unuofin

Otunola

Afolayan

2017

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine

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Realizing the potential of indigenous vegetables through improved germplasm information and seed systems

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Macro- and Micronutrients from Traditional Food Plants Could Improve Nutrition and Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases of Islanders on Atolls in the South Pacific

Nutritional evaluation, phytochemical makeup, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of wild plants utilized as food by the Gaddis-a tribal tribe in the Western Himalayas

Nutritional evaluation of Kedrostis africana (L.) Cogn: An edible wild plant of South Africa

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