Unlocking the nutritional potential of amorphophallus paeoniifolius: A district -level analysis in Himachal Pradesh

Introduction

A tuberous annual diploid C3 plant (2n = 2× = 26, 28) (Ravi et al., 2011) [13] , elephant foot yam (EFY) [a variant of A. paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson syn. A. campanulatus (Roxb.) BL. Ex Dence] is grown primarily to create underlying food stores. Four years later establishing one unisexual bloom shows up in EFY, wherein cross-pollinating is encouraged by excessive protogyny and a delayed spathe formation. It is considered a yearly plant, yet usually harvested between August and September after flowering (Bora et al., These locations were selected for their unique geographical characteristics and rich biodiversity allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the nutritional analysis.

Study Sites 1. Hamirpur: Located in the western Himalayan region,

Hamirpur Has an average elevation of 759 meters above mean sea level. The elevation of Hamirpur district varies between 470 meters and 1078 meters above mean sea level. (Site 1) 2. Kangra: Situated in the Dhaula Dar mountain range, Kangra has an average elevation of 1665 meters above mean sea level with a minimum. (Site 2) 3. Mandi: It has an average elevation of 1639 meters above mean sea level. The district elevation ranges from 4000 meters to over 4,000 meters in the higher reaches. (Site 3)

Nutritional Analysis and Ethnomedicinal Uses:

The study aimed to investigate the nutritional composition and ethnomedicinal uses of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius found in these three sites. The results highlight the potential of this plant species as a source of nutrition and medicine.

Methods

Moisture: Weigh accurately about 5 g of the prepared sample in the moisture dish, previously dried in the oven at 105 • C and weighed. Place the dish in the oven maintained at 105 • ± 2 If weight of sample takes n is 100g, the calculation will be direct:

Fat content (g/100g) = weight of fat extracted.

Total Ash: Weigh accurately about 5g of the prepared sample in a tared, clean and dry silica dish. Ignite the material in the dish on a heating mantle. Complete the ignition by keeping the dish in a muffle furnace at 550±25C until grey ash results. Repeat the process of igniting, cooling and weighing at one -hour intervals until the difference between two successive weighing is not more than 1 mg. Record the final weight of the ash.

Calculation

Total Ash Content = (Weight of ash/Weight of sample taken) ×100

Crude Fiber Determination Procedure: Weigh accurately 2.5-3g of sample and extract with petroleum ether in a Soxhlet Extractor. 1. Airdry the extracted sample and transfer to a 1l conical flask. 2. For highfat samples (>10%), treat with acetone and petroleum benzene. 3. Add boiling sulfuric acid to the flask and connect to a reflux condenser. Boil for 30 minutes, rotating the flask frequently. 4. Boil the residue with sodium hydroxide solution for 30 minutes. 5. Transfer the residue to a Gooch crucible with asbestos and wash with hot water and ethyl alcohol. 6. Incinerate the contents of the Gooch crucible in a muffle furnace at 550± 25C until all carbonaceous matter is burnt. 7. Cool the Gooch crucible containing ash in a desiccator and weigh.

Calculation

Crude Fiber Content = (Loss in weight on ignition / Weight of sample taken) ×100

Conclusion

The comparative nutritional evaluation of A. paeoniifolius across three collection sites revealed consistent macronutrient dominance by carbohydrates (70-72%), indicating that the tuber serves primarily as ahigh-energy food source. Crude Protein content (12-13%) remained fairly stable among sites, reflecting the crop's potential as a moderate plant-based protein contributor. Crude fiber (1.6-1.8%) and ash content (4%) were also uniform, suggesting that the species maintains compositional integrity despite

International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science https://www.agriculturaljournals.com environmental variation. Micronutrient analysis showed slight site-dependent differences. Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium were the most abundant minerals, while copper and manganese appeared in trace quantities. Despite these variations, overall mineral content remained within the same relative range, confirming the species mineral stability.

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