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Exploring Wild Edible Plants in Malakand, Pakistan: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Insights

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Ibrahim

    (Department of Botany, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan)

  • Naveed Akhtar

    (Department of Botany, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan)

  • Abdul Wahab

    (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei

    (Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mikhlid H. Almutairi

    (Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Human beings have used wild edible plants (WEPs) for food since ancient times. The poor and underprivileged people of the district of Malakand, Pakistan, also depend on wild edible plants (WEPs) to fulfill their food and nutrition needs. Wild edible plants (WEPs) are a potential solution for overcoming food shortages for families living in rural areas. The current study evaluated the ethnobotanical, nutritional, and elemental potential of some wild edible plants (WEPs) commonly used by local people in the district of Malakand, Pakistan. Ethnobotanical information was collected from local people through a semi-structured questionnaire. The ethnobotanical information collected about wild edible plants revealed that two wild edible species belong to the family Fabaceae , two plant species belong to the family Polygonaceae , and one plant species belongs to each family Amaranthaceae , Brassicaceae , Chenopodiaceae , Malvaceae , Oxalidaceae , and Portulaceae . The plants collected were all herbs, and the parts used as edible parts were mostly leaves and young shoots. All the collected plants were predominantly used as vegetables by local people. The proximate nutritional analysis was carried out according to the official methods of AOAC (from 2016). The proximate nutritional analysis revealed that the selected WEPs are a good source of important nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, fats, and caloric energy. The proximate nutritional analysis of selected WEPs revealed that the highest (%) moisture content was calculated in Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton (90.45 ± 0.3); the highest dry matter (%) was present in Oxalis corniculata L. (21.60 ± 0.2); the highest ash (%) in Chenopodium album L. (17.80 ± 0.3); the highest crude fibers (%) in Meliolotus indicus (L.) All (16.45 ± 0.5); the highest crude protein (%) in Meliolotus indicus (L.) All (14.40 ± 0.1%); the highest crude fats (%) in Rumex hastatus Don. (3.80 ± 0.04); the highest percentage of carbohydrates in Portulaca oleracea L. (65.38 ± 0.6); and the maximum energy value was calculated for Portulaca oleracea L. (321.38 ± 0.4 Kcal/100 g). The elemental analysis of wild edible plants (WEPs) was carried out through energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The EDX analysis showed that these WEPs consist of crucial and imperative elements such as C, O, N, P, Mg, K, S, Ca, Al, Si, Cl, Fe, Cu, Na, and Zn, which are integral parts of the human diet. Following the results of the EDX elemental analysis, Portulaca oleracea accounted for the highest concentration (%) of carbon, Oxalis corniculata accounted for the highest concentration (%) of oxygen, and Nasturtium officinale accounted for the maximum concentration of nitrogen (9.70%). The current study revealed that the research area is rich in diversity of wild edible plants (WEPs), a cheap and economical food source for locals. The study also showed that these wild edible plants (WEPs) possess all the crucial nutrients and elements imperative for human food and health. These wild edible plants (WEPs) will play a key role in a sustainable food system in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Ibrahim & Naveed Akhtar & Abdul Wahab & Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei & Mikhlid H. Almutairi, 2023. "Exploring Wild Edible Plants in Malakand, Pakistan: Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12881-:d:1225322
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muhammad Abdul Aziz & Zahid Ullah & Andrea Pieroni, 2020. "Wild Food Plant Gathering among Kalasha, Yidgha, Nuristani and Khowar Speakers in Chitral, NW Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-23, November.
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