Nutritional and Antioxidant Study of Seeds of A Folk Plant - Gnetum ula Brongn

Background: Ayurveda opines that every plant has its own medicinal values, but there are many less explored plants which are not popular though beneficial either as food or as medicine. But this knowledge is passed from tradition to tradition in folklore practices but within a few groups of a society. One such plant from gymnosperm group is Gnetum ula Brongn. (Gnetaceae) found commonly in and around Udupi. Locally known as Kumti beeja. Seeds are roasted or boiled and consumed as food and the seed oil is used in rheumatism and also as krimighna by folk practitioners. The present work aimed in such less explored plants for its nutritional assessment and antioxidant study. Methods: The study conducted was to reveal preliminary nutritional value of seeds of G.ula in which total fat was done in Soxhlet apparatus, total protein taking Bovine serum as standard and total carbohydrates, taking glucose as standard. Antioxidant study was done comparing between aqueous extract of fresh nuts and roasted nuts of G. ula taking Vitamin C as standard by DPPH method. Results: Study revealed seeds of G.ula in which total fat was 2.15%, total protein was 1.26% and total carbohydrates was 0.057% and seeds proved to be nutritious. Antioxidant activity comparing between fresh and roasted seeds revealed that fresh seeds are having more antioxidant property. Conclusion: Folklore medicine has tremendous source of information regarding the utility of locally available plants for both as food and as medicines. Such plants have to be properly explored and scientifically documented before putting it into use.