Nutraceutical and secondary metabolite studies of the spike of Digera muricata (L.) Mart., a medicinal weed used as vegetable

Abstract

The wild plants named weeds are consumed by human being as food, medicines as well as fodder to pets. Amongst the weed s Digera muricata (L.) Mart. belonging to Family Amaranthaceae, is an annual medicinal herb, grows as a weed in all of India's states up to 1500 msl altitude. It is also one which is consumed as vegetable, fodder and the medicine for various ailments in traditional folk medical system as well as in Ayurveda as an astringent and cooling agent. Its leaves and tender shoots are consumed as vegetable and soup preparations whereas the spikes are consumed either fresh or in cooked form. Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-fertility, antioxidant, anticancer, antileishmanial, antitesticular, prophylactic, allopathic, and protective properties are well recorded. The nutritional values of leaves have been studied in past hereas the spikes which are consumed fresh or in cooked form were yet to be v studied and the present paper deals with the nutraceutical and secondary metabolite assessment of the spikes of D. muricata (L.) Mart. The proximate nutritional values and secondary metabolites justifies the inclusion of spike under food from wild sources.