Nutritional composition of some wild edible flowers used by the rurals/tribal's of Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh

Edible flowers are commonly used in human nutrition and their consumption has increased in recent years. They are known to be excellent source of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, dietary fibers and food energy. The aim of this study was to ascertain the nutritional composition and the content of selected three wild edible flowers which can be used as an efficient alternative bio- source of nutrition. The result revealed that flowers of Madhuca indica reported the highest value of carbohydrate (33.90 mg/100g), riboflavin (44.12 mg/100g) and fiber (97 %) where as flowers of Cassia fistula showed the highest values of fat (1.93 %), thiamine (17.54 mg/l), niacin (32.01 %), vitamin C. (4.72 %), carotenoid (20.29 mg/5g), moisture (7.2 %) and energy content (145.27 Kcal/100g). On the other hand flowers of Moringa oleifera were reported to contain highest values of protein (1.27 g/100g) and calcium (2987.91 ml/l) among all the selected flowers. These WEPs species were identified as promising species of emergency food at the time of crop loss, food shortage and chronic malnutrition.