Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF WILD ENDEMIC EDIBLE TUBER: THERIOPHONUM FISCHERI SIVAD.

*Aghil Soorya Aravindakshan and Dr. Sekar Thangavel

Abstract

The herbal species Theriophonum fischeri Sivad. belonging to the family Araceae is a wild edible tuberous plant, endemic to Southern Western Ghats holding various traditional cures. Hence the present investigation was encouraged with the phytochemical, nutritional and anti-microbial activity of tuber and leaves of the species. The nutritional analysis of the species resulted with the carbohydrate holds the front chair followed by protein and with traces of trypsin inhibitor. The extractive yield, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity were at the peak for the ethanolic tuber extract adding the significant antimicrobial activity against the bacterial strain Pseudomonal aeruginosa and Klebsella pneumoniae. The High Performance - Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed that plant parts possess catechin, gallic acid and quercetin which are proved to hold the above cure properties decades ago. On further investigation, much more eminent properties are to be relieved and hence the endemic species is to be conserved in its native in regard of its therapeutic properties.

Keywords: Theriophonum fischeri, Nutritional, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, HPLC, Western Ghats.