Assessment of awareness and significance of Poi (Basella L.) among women at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, lifestyle changes have led to diets low in fiber and antioxidants, contributing to gastrointestinal and heart diseases. Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread, especially in developing countries. To address this, adding green leafy vegetables to meals is essential for improving nutrition. Indigenous vegetables, such as Basella L. (commonly known as Poi or Malabar spinach), are highly nutritious but often overlooked due to a lack of awareness and the perception of them as "poor man's food." Basella L., native to India and Indonesia, thrives in tropical regions and is rich in fiber, vitamins A, B and C, iron, calcium and saponins, which help fight cancer and heart diseases. It is available in two common varieties: Basella alba (green leaves and white flowers) and Basella rubra (purplish leaves and stems). Basella alba is also used medicinally to treat headaches, inflammation and ulcers. Studies show its potential in addressing vitamin deficiencies; for example, incorporating powdered Basella alba leaves into egg noodles increases vitamin A content, benefiting children and pregnant women. Traditionally, Basella L. has been valued for its many health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties, making it a versatile and underutilized crop with significant potential for improving health. Soriano et al. (2020) [10] investigated the use of Alugbati (Basella alba L.) leaf powder to enhance the vitamin A content of fresh egg noodles. The study found that noodles with Alugbati powder had significantly higher total carotenoid content (1550 µg/g) compared to the control (610 µg/g). However, the elasticity of the fortified noodles was lower, with an elongation of 16.01 mm, likely due to a weakened gluten network caused by the powder substitution. Despite this, the authors concluded that Alugbati-fortified noodles could serve as a valuable source of vitamin A, potentially aiding in reducing vitamin A deficiency, particularly among children and pregnant women. Shruthi et al. (2012) [9] reported that rural communities in Orissa used a paste made from the root of Basella alba combined with rice-washed water, consumed on an empty stomach for one month, as a traditional remedy for irregular menstrual cycles. According to Anandarajagopal et al. (2011) [1] , Basella alba leaves are used in Nigerian folk medicine to treat hypertension and in Cameroon for malaria. The plant is also noted for its antifungal, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiinflammatory, androgenic properties and its use in treating anemia. In Ayurveda, the leaves are traditionally applied to the head about 30 minutes before bathing to promote sound and refreshing sleep. Malabar spinach (Basella alba and Basella rubra) is a versatile plant with numerous applications in nutrition, medicine, industry, and sustainable agriculture. Nutritionally, it is a low-calorie vegetable rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, and antioxidants like lutein and betacarotene, which promote eye health and reduce oxidative stress (Gupta and Prakash, 2009; Murthy et al., 2005) [2,3] . Medicinally, it is valued in Ayurveda and folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, laxative, and woundhealing properties (Parameshwarappa and Veena, 2012; Shalini and Srinivas, 2010) [4,7] . Its mucilaginous texture www.extensionjournal.com makes it a natural thickener in soups and curries, widely used in traditional cuisines (Thakur and Singh, 2015) [11] . Industrially, its mucilage serves as a thickening agent in food and cosmetics, while the red-stemmed variety provides natural dyes (Saha et al., 2014; Sharma and Verma, 2011) [5,8] . Environmentally, it contributes to sustainable agriculture by preventing soil erosion and thriving in diverse climatic conditions (Bose and Sarkar, 2018) [6] . These multifaceted uses make Malabar spinach an essential crop for both economic and ecological purposes. The data highlights the distribution of respondents across various personal and socio-economic variables. In terms of age, the majority (48%) of respondents belong to the 40-49 age group, followed by 22 percent in the 30-39 age group, 18 percent in the 20-29 age group and 12 percent aged above 50 years. Regarding education levels, nearly half (48%) of the respondents have completed higher secondary education, while 18 percent are graduates. Smaller proportions include those with primary education (16%), secondary education (12%) and illiterates (6%). In terms of family occupation, the majority (76%) of respondents come from families engaged in service, while 24 percent have families involved in both farming and service.

Objective

Looking at respondents' occupations, a significant proportion (84%) are homemakers, with only 16 percent engaged in service.

For family monthly income, the largest segment (42%) falls within the ₹50,000-₹1,00,000 range, followed by 40 percent earning below ₹50,000. A smaller segment (8%) earns between ₹1,00,000 and ₹5,00,000, while none reported earning above ₹5,00,000. This data provides insight into the demographic, educational, occupational and economic profile of the respondents. The data highlights varying levels of awareness and usage of the Poi plant among respondents. While 42 percent were aware of Poi, 24 percent were unfamiliar and another 24 percent had only heard of it. Family emerged as the primary source of information (36%), followed by neighbors (14%), TV/web (12%) and friends (10%), with 24 percent receiving no information. Regarding usage, 42 percent recognized Poi as both a food and medicine, but 38 percent did not associate it with either. Accessibility was limited, with 52 percent lacking any source for Poi and only 16 percent cultivating it at home. Overall, the findings indicate moderate awareness but limited cultivation and usage, suggesting a need for increased education and promotion of Poi's benefits. www.extensionjournal.com Regarding taste, 24 percent like the taste of Poi, with 18 percent describing it as astringent and 6 percent as sweet, while 76 percent are unsure of its taste. Most participants (64%) never use Poi, while 16 percent use it often and 20 percent sometimes. There were no reports of side effects from using Poi, but 24 percent of respondents said they did not know about the potential side effects. Furthermore, 84 percent of participants were unaware of the different types of Poi plants, while only 12 percent knew about them. This suggests that while Poi is somewhat recognized for its medicinal and edible uses, its overall usage remains limited and there is a lack of awareness about its varieties and side effects.

Conclusion

Basella alba (Malabar spinach) is a highly nutritious and versatile plant with significant potential for improving health, particularly in addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Despite its valuable medicinal and dietary benefits, awareness and usage of Poi remain limited, especially in local communities. Efforts to promote its cultivation and consumption, along with increasing knowledge about its various uses, could help harness its full potential for enhancing nutrition and overall well-being. The findings suggest a need for further education and outreach to maximize the benefits of this underutilized crop.

References

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