The document discusses various underutilized plant species in India that have potential to address malnutrition issues. It identifies several lesser known crops, fruits, nuts, and plants that are rich sources of nutrients like protein, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals. Information is provided on the nutritional composition and uses of these underutilized species, which could help promote their cultivation and consumption to improve food and nutrition security.

1. •Miss. Latika Yadav( Research Scholar) Foods & Nutrition
•Dr .Vibha Bhatnagar, Asso. Prof, Department of Foods and
Nutrition, College of Home Science, MPUAT, Udaipur

2. 
 The presence of various nutrients is essential in human diet for
healthy and active life. We need a wide range of nutrients for
substance growth and development.

 The compound that are classed as nutrients are: water,
carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals.

 The macro nutrients and carbon compound synthesized by living
organism, they are required in large amounts these include
carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.

 Globally, of the 6.0 billion people (2000 AD), 1.1.billion is
hungry and undernourished. Half the poor of the world live in
Asia.

 The UNICEF indicates that at least 5000 children die everyday
due to diseases linked to malnutrition. Low calorie-intake is
common.

 India accounts for 40% of the world’s malnourished children and
60 percent of Indian women are anaemic (World Bank, 1998).

3. How do we go about
in providing balanced
nutritious food when
food itself is scarce?
Realizing the need to carry out systematic research on lesser known crops of
Realizing the need to carry out systematic research on lesser known crops of
future promise, the AICRP on under-utilized and under-exploited plants was
future promise, the AICRP on under-utilized and under-exploited plants was
initiated in 1982, under the aegis of the ICAR, during the VI Five Year Plan.
initiated in 1982, under the aegis of the ICAR, during the VI Five Year Plan.
The underutilized crops species identified by AICRP that have the potential to
The underutilized crops species identified by AICRP that have the potential to
fit into the existing or modified agro-farming systems are listed in (Table 1).
fit into the existing or modified agro-farming systems are listed in (Table 1).

4. Table 1. Under-utilized crops prioritized for research
Crop Group Crops
Pseudo- cereals Grain amaranth (Amaranthus
hypochondriacus), Buckwheat
( Fagopyrum esculentum, F. amaranth
tataricum), Chenopodium
( Chenopodium album, C. quinoa)
Grain legumes Rice bean ( Vigna umbellate),
Adzuki bean ( Vigna angularis), Buckwheat
Faba bean
( Vicia faba),
Winged bean
( PsophocarpusTetragonolobus)
Chenopodium
Rice bean Faba bean
Winged bean

5. Crop Group Crops
Oilseeds Perilla ( Perilla frutescens),
paradise tree ( Simarouba glauca)
Kankoda
Vegetables Kankoda ( Momordica dioica)
Winged
bean ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus),
Kalingada ( Citulus lanatus)
Source : :Phogat et al (2002)
Source Phogat et al (2002) Winged bean
Perilla Kalingada

6. Pseudo-Cereals
Grain amaranth, buckwheat and chenopods are the three important pseudo cereals that
are widely cultivated in the mountain region as well as in the plains.
Table 2. Comparative food value of pseudo-cereals and cereal
S.No Crop Protein Carbohydrat Lipids Minerals
(%) es (%) (%) (%)
1 Amaranth 16.0 62.0 8.0 3.0
Amaranth 2 Buckwheat 13.0 72.9 7.4 2.1
3 Chenopodium 14.0 65.0 7.0 3.0
4 Job’s tear 11.4 73.5 3.5 0.8
5 Wheat 12.0 69.0 1.7 2.7
Buckwheat
6 Rice 6.7 78.0 0.3 0.3
7 Maize 11.0 66.0 3.5 1.1
8 Barley 11.0 69.0 1.3 1.9
Chenopodium Source : :Joshi and Paroda (1991)
Source Joshi and Paroda (1991)
Barley
Job’s tear Wheat Rice Maize

7. Grain legumes
Rice bean, Faba bean ,Adzuki bean, and Winged bean are the important underutilized
grain legumes grown in the hilly/ plain regions.
Table 3. Nutritive value (per 100 g) of under-utilized and 1
major food legumes
S.No Crops Crude Fat (g) Carbohydra Fibre Ash(g)
Protein te (g) (g) 2
(g)
1 Rice bean 20.9 0.9 60.7 4.8 4.2
2 Faba bean 26.2 1.3 59.4 6.8 3.0
3
3 Adzuki 19.9 0.6 64.4 7.8 4.3
bean
4 Winged 32.8 17.0 36.5 4.1 3.6 4
bean
5 Chickpea 19.4 5.6 60.9 2.5 3.1
5
6 Pigeon pea 21.6 1.4 72.7 8.1 4.2
Source: Bhagmal (1994)
Source: Bhagmal (1994) 6

8.  Kankoda (Momordica dioica): it is
grown throughout the country for its
fruits, which are highly preferred as
vegetable.
 The fruit is rich in Vitamin C and is ideal
for patients suffering from diabetes and
gout. Diabetes
Diabetes
 Mature seeds are also used for various
preparations and contain about 32-37%
protein. It has diuretic properties. The
flesh can be used for preparing pickles
and sweet.
 The seed contain 20-40% oil used for
cooking and as illuminant. The seeds are
parched and eaten with other grains.

9.  Perilla (Perilla frutescens): it is known as
Bhanjira, is an important multipurpose crop
of the Himalayan region but is more
prevalent in the north-eastern region. The
seeds are used in the form of a paste
(Chutney) and consumed with rice or
chapatti.
Paradise tree (Simarouba glauca):
Paradise tree has its origin in El-
Salvador, South America from where it
has been introduced in India. The seed of
the plant yields 55-60% oil, suitable for
human consumption.

10. Region Fruits
Hindustani Amra1, Bael2, Chironji3, Citron4, Date sugar palm5, Downy myrtle6,
Drum stick7, Indian butter tree8, Indian gooseberry9, Indian jujube10,
Jackfruit11,Jamun12, Jharber13, Karonda14, Ker15, Khejri16, Khirni17,
Kitembilla18, Kokam19,mahua20, monkey jack21, Mysore raspberry22,
Palmyra palm23, Paniala24, Phalsa25, Tree bean26.
1 12
16
20
4 8
24
9 13
17 25
21
5
2
10 14 18 26
6
22
3
7 19
11 15
23

11. Region Fruits
Central Black mulberry1,
Asian Chilgoza2, 1
Pistachio3.
2
Source: Pareek et al (1998)
Source: Pareek et al (1998)
3

12. 
 Nutritionally fats and oils are important for absorption of Vitamin A, D and
E.

 Seeds and nuts are energy dense foods being rich in oils, fats and calories.
Such foods re especially required for growing children.

 The most important nut Producing species are Cashew nut 11, mogongo nut22,
marula nut33, chilgoza nut44, pecan nut55, chestnut66, black walnut77, butternut88,
pistachio99, Shea butter tree10 (45-60% fat), Acrocomia sclerocarpa11 (53.75%),
10 11
Arganai sideroxylon12 (50%), Madhuca longifolia 13(50%), babassu14 (60-70%),
12 13 14
butter fruit15 and avocado15 are also rich energy foods.
15 15

 In melabesia, consumption of starch from the sago palm is the main source of
energy food for more than one million people (FAO, 1995).
4 6
2 3 5 7
1
10 13
9 11 12 14 15
8

13. 
 Protein is essential for the growth and maintenance of human Brazil nut
body but its deficiency is widespread in poverty- ridden areas of
the world. unlike most of the common fruits, some of the
underutilized fruits are rich in protein, e.g. Brazil nut (14.3-
17.4%), Chironji (21.6%), Java almond (19.6%), European Chironji
filbert ( 16.4-20%), black walnut (20.5%), white walnut (24.6%),
ginkgo (10.2-10.5%), marula nut, etc.

 The fruit of Jessenia bataua contains a high quality protein and
oil. Similarly in humid zone of West Africa, some underutilized Java almond
fruit species are of exceptional nutritional value, e.g. the seeds of
Ricinodendron africanum contain 28% protein and provide 570
calories/100g.
European filbert
Ricinodendron Jessenia white walnut black walnut
bataua marula nut ginkgo
africanum

14. Fruit/ Nut Protein (%)
African breadfruit, African boxwood (Treculia 13.9
Africana Decne.)
American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) 20.8
American hazelnut, Filbert (Corylus Walt.) 16.5
Brazil nut, nut (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & 14.3- 17.4
Bonpl.)
Butternut, Whit walnut, Oilnut (Juglan cinerea L.) 24.6
Chinese hairy chestnut ( Castanea mollissima 11.9
Blume)

15. Fruit/ Nut Protein
(%)
Chironji, Cuddapah almond, Piyal ( Buchanania lanzan 21.6
Spreng.)
Eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) 20.5
English walnut (Juglans regia L.) 13.7-18.2
European chestnut, Spanish chestnut, Sweet chestnut (Castanea 6.1-7.5
sativa Mill.)
Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba L.) 10.2-10.5
Indian almond, Tropical almond (Terminalia catappa L.) 19.1-25.4
Indian lotus, Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) 16.6-24.2
Java almond, Canary nut (Canarium indicum L.) 19.6

16. Fruit/ Nut Protein (%)
Manindjo, Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon L.) 10.9
Marula nut, Kaffir plum (Sclerocarya caffra 24.6
Sond.)
Mogongo nut (Ricinodendron rautanenii 7.9 (fruit), 38 (nut)
Schinz)
Pilinut, Philippine nut (Canarium ovatum 12.2-15.6
Engler)
Pine nut, Pinon (Pinus edulis Engelm.) 14.3
Pistachio nut ( Pistacia vera L.) 19.3- 20.4
Sweet chestnut, American chestnut (Castanea 12.2
dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.)
Water chestnut (Trapa natans L.) 12.2
Source: Pareek and Sharma (2009)

17. Botanical Common Moisture Energy CHO Fibre Fat Protein
name Name (%) (Cal.) (g) (g) (g) (g)
Tamarindus Tamarind 20.9 142 34 2.8 0.05 1.6
indica
Manilikara molsiri 54.7 80 18 2.2 0.50 0.9
elangii
Bambusa Bamboo 56.3 76 17.1 2.0 0.05 2.0
arundinacea
Phoenix Dates 59.2 72 16.9 1.9 0.20 0.6
dactylifera
Aegle Bael 61.5 68 15.9 1.5 0.15 0.9
marmalos
Manilikara Khirni 68.6 67 13.9 - 1.20 0.3
hexandra

18. Botanical Common Moisture Energy CHO Fibre Fat Protein
name Name (%) (Cal.) (g) (g) (g) (g)
Feronia Kaitha 64.2 67 9.1 2.5 1.85 3.6
limonia
F. indica Baincha 67.8 57 11.4 2.4 0.90 0.9
D. Tumbi 69.6 56 13.3 0.8 0.05 0.7
embryopteris
M. indica Mahua 73.6 56 11.4 - 0.80 0.7
Diospyros Timru 70.6 56 13.4 0.4 0.10 0.4
melanoxylon
Ficus Pipal tree 62.4 55 10.6 5.0 0.85 1.3
religiosa figs

19. Botanical Common Moisture Energy CHO Fibre Fat Protei
name Name (%) (Cal.) (g) (g) (g) n (g)
Annona Seeta phal 70.5 52 11.8 1.6 0.20 0.8
squamosa
Ficus Banyan tree 74.1 36 5.9 4.3 1.00 0.9
bengalensi
s
Emblica Aonla 81.8 29 6.8 1.7 0.05 0.3
officinalis
Physallis Cape 82.9 27 5.6 1.6 0.10 0.9
peruviana
F. cunia Carcia 79.4 26 5.4 3.2 0.30 0.6
anjeer
Moringa Sahajan 86.9 13 1.8 2.4 0.05 1.3
oleifera
Source: Simlot (2001)

20. 
 Substantial increase in food production in many countries over the last five
decades, the world still remains poorly fed.

 Over 800 million people are still chronically undernourished. Among them,
nearly 200 million infants suffer from acute or chronic protein and energy
deficiencies.

 The neglected and underutilized species common in the ecologically deprived
regions inhabited by poor people are nutritionally rich and provide food
security to the people in their native regions of diversity during the famine and
scarcity periods in different parts of the world.

 When other crops fail during drought, famine and War and emergency periods,
these fruits offer vital insurance and provide life support as food.