Amaranthus = Prickly Chaff-flower/Hindi Name: C
hirchita, Latjira, Onga
Vergleich: Enthält: 16% protein in amaranth;
Amaranthus retroflexus (= Rauhaarige Fuchsschwanz Taumel).
Siehe: Caryophyllales
https://openscholar.dut.ac.za/bitstream/10321/450/1/Singh_2009.pdf
Information regarding the
nutritional valueof
wild food plants in Africa and current information varies from source to source.
Prior to commercialization of wild foods the nutritional, ethnobotanical, medical,
chemical, anthropological
and toxicity requires
investigation. Plants from
the Amaranthaceae family
were chosen because
the family is
characterized by several species which are
used by indigenous communities as
a source of nutrition in different plants of the world.
The focus of
this study was
to investigate the
nutritional and biological
activities of three plants from the
Amaranthaceae
family viz. Achyranthes
aspera, Alternanthera sessilis and Guilleminea densathat are considered famine plants. This study
aimed to determine the nutritional value (proximate, minerals and vitamins), biological activity,
toxicity and potential
of a tissue
culture systemfor three
species from the family Amaranthaceae.Nutritionalanalysis comprisedofdetermining moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary
fibre and energy.
Mineral analysis of calcium,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus,
sodium and zinc
was performed by
microwave digestion and
then analyzed by ICP Spectrophotometry.
Vitamin A, Vitamin
B1,Vitamin B2, Vitamin
B3 and Vitamin Cwere also analyzed. For biological and safety
analyses aqueous and methanolic extracts
were prepared. Anti-oxidativeand
anti-inflammatory properties of
the extracts were tested; antimicrobial activitywastested
by evaluating the bactericidal, fungal effect
and minimum inhibitory concentrationon selected
bacteria and fungi
using the agar
disk diffusion method. Anti
mosquito potential was
determined by setting
up repellency, larvacidal assay
and insecticidal assay. The
safety and toxicity analysis was carried
out by measuring
cytotoxicity, toxicity and mutagenicity.
The potential of an invitro tissue
culture system of A.aspera, A.sessilisand G.densa was determined using micropropagation.
A. aspera indicated significant amounts moisture,
ash, dietary fibre, protein, vitamin B1,
vitamin B2, magnesium and manganese. Plant extracts of A. aspera had antibacterial activity against the Gram negative
bacteria Esherichia coli, Pseudomas aeroginosa and
Salmonella typhi;
Gram positive bacteria
Staphylococcus epidermis and Staphylococcus aureus. The methanolic extract had
antifungal activity against Sacchromyces
cerevisiae
and exhibited significant
free radical scavenging activity
as well as 85% repellency against Anophelesarabiensis.
The aqueous extract stimulated the growth
of the K562(Chronic
Myclogenous
Leukaemia) cell line and
the plant extracts showed no mutagenicity or toxicity. A. sessilis
indicated significant levels of ash, dietary fibre, protein, energy, vitamin
A, vitamin B1, vitaminB2, vitamin
B3, iron, magnesium and manganese present. Plant extractsof A. sessilis had antibacterial activity against
Gram negative bacteria P. aeroginosa and Gram positive bacteria S. epidermis. The
plant also showed antifungal activity
against the yeasts S.
cerevisiae and Candida albicans. The methanolic
plant extract showed excellent
antioxidant activity. The aqueous
plant extract stimulated
the growth of the
K562cell line and the plant extracts
possessed no mutagenicity or toxicity. This plant
grew well in a tissue
culture system where
it was propagated from callus
to a fully
grown plant able
to survive in environmental
conditions. G. densahas ash and dietary fibre, vitamin B2, vitamin
B3 and iron. The plant extracts
had antibacterial activity against
Gram negative bacteria E. coli, P.aeroginosa and Klebsiella. oxytoca;
Gram positive bacteria Baccilus stereathermophilus
and S. aureus.
The plant also
has antifungal activity
against C. albicans
and significant repellency
activity against
A. arabiensis where it showed 100% repellency.
This plant was not
found to be mutagenic or toxic. The results
obtained from this
study show promising
potential for the
plants to be
exploited as famine food
plants. The nutritional value,
biological activity and
ability to micropropagate A. aspera, A. sessilisand G. densaindicates
a good potential for purposes
of harnessing biotechnological products.
Phytology: Ayurveda:
bitter, pungent, heating, laxative, stomachic, carminative and useful
in treatment of
vomiting, bronchitis, heart
disease, piles, itching
abdominal pains, ascites, dyspepsia,
dysentery, blood diseases etc. Juice used
in the treatment of boils, diarrhea, dysentery,
hemorrhoids, rheumatic pains, itches and skin eruptions. The leaf
is emetic and a decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
A paste of the leaves is applied in
the treatment of rabies, nervous disorders, hysteria,
insect and snake bites (Manandhar, 2002). The ash
from the burnt plant, often mixed with
mustard oil and a pinch of salt,
is used as a tooth powder for
cleaning teeth. The dried twigs are used as toothbrushes.