Nutritive value of the foods cultivated and consumed by the tribals of South India

Abstract

Twenty five foods cultivated and consumed by the tribals of Andhra Pradesh, India, comprising cereals/millets, legumes, tubers and miscellaneous foods collected seasonally from 20 tribal villages were analysed for proximate composition, vitamins and minerals. The major findings of the study were as follows: Protein content of cereals/millets ranged from 6.8 to 11.8 g per 100 g and that of legumes from 20 to 23.8 g per 100 g. The uncommon legume, judumulu (Vigna sp.) grown by the tribals had the protein content of 22 g per 100 g. A wild legume,Mucuna pruriens, had the highest protein content of 27.9 g per 100 g. Mineral contents of the foods showed greater variations. Two varieties of ragi and horsegram grown in the area had an iron contents of 38 mgs per 100 g. Among the wild tubers analysed,Diascorea hispida andD. bulbifera had about 134 Kcal per 100 g. In vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) analysed in the raw tubers ranged from 8.7 to 11.5 percent and caryota palm pith had IVSD 5.9 percent. Among the miscellaneous foods analysed, rajkeera seed (Amaranthus paniculatus) had protein content of 22 g per 100 g. Amylase inhibitor units of the wild tubers varied from 80 to 400 A/U and that of caryota palm pith was 712 A/U.