Nutritional composition of fruits of Alangium salviifolium, ssp Sundanum (Miq.) Bloemp.: An underutilized edible fruit plant

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the food and nutritional potential of the wild edible fruit, Alangium salviifolium, ssp sundanum (Miq.) Bloemp. consumed by Kanis, an indigenous tribal community residing in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Southern Western Ghats. Results indicated that the fruits have a high moisture content of 83.9 ± 1.49g /100g. while the mean carbohydrate content observed was 11.67g in 100g of edible portion. The energy value was 81 kcal/100 g. The ascorbic acid and Vitamin E composition noted were 62.46 mg and 0.71 mg/100g respectively. Potassium and sodium were the most abundant mineral elements analyzed. The current study emphasized the fact that the fruit of Alangium salviifolium, ssp sundanum is a potential source of the flavonoid pigments anthocyanin, and the mean value observed was 157.37 mg/100 g which is well comparable with many commercial anthocyanin-rich fruits.