Nutritional Assessment of Leaves of Wild Edible Plant Urtica ardence

Abstract

Considering the growing need to identify alternative bio-nutritional sources, wild edible leaves consumed in forest zone of Uttarakhand, India were evaluated for their nutritive value in order to prioritize edible wild plant suitable for domestication. The result showed significance of wild plant species as important source of nutrient for rural poor people. The nutritional value of leaves of wild plant Urtica ardence were evaluated in terms of protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber content, vitamin content, reducing sugars and minerals. Urtica ardence had a significant level of above nutrients and therefore was identified as promising specie for promotion as backyard planting especially farming systems suffering from crop loss, food shortage and chronic malnutrition.