Nutritional analysis of some selected medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Plant biodiversity contribute significantly to human health, nourishing and nurturing them and alleviating their acute and chronic diseases. Plants not only served as curing agents since long but also providing basic nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, fat etc. These nutrients have essential role in supporting human body requirements for vigor, used in different physiological and morphological functions. In present study, Cucumis sativus, Portulaca oleracea, Malus baccata, Saxifraga flagillaris, Geranium wallichianum and Monotheca buxifolia, were assessed for their nutritional and proximate composition (ash, moisture, protein, carbohydrates and fat) subjected to Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) procedure based to their ethno botanical importance. In results, the comparative assessment of these selected plants showed that Carbohydrates was highest in Monotheca buxifolia (74.27%), followed by Geranium wallichianum (64.68%) and Saxifraga flagillaris (62.79%). Ash content was highest in Portulaca oleracea (26.44%), followed by Malus baccata (22.83%) and Cucumis sativus (20%). Malus baccata possessed highest percentage of moisture (18.69%). Saxifraga flagillaris has highest percentage of protein (4.37%). Cucumis sativus consisted of highest percentage of fat (14%). It is concluded from the present study that medicinal plants play crucial role in human life and are praiseworthy springs of food nutrients and therapeutics associate in human health.