Nutritional evaluation from Nesphostylis bracteata (Syn: Sphenostylis bracteata): potentially important underutilized wild legume of the Northern Western Ghats of India

Nesphostylis bracteata is an endemic, perennial of Faboideae. Locally known as ‘Bhendri’ or ‘Raan Pavata’, the species is an underexploited wild edible legume from the Northern Western Ghats (NWG) of India. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature classification, the species belongs to the Vulnerable category. In the present study, the species was investigated for its potential utilization for human and cattle feed. Young leaves and immature pods were collected from six different locations in the NWG of India. Pod morphological characters, biochemical, and mineral analysis were conducted. Variability was noted in pod length, pod width, pod weight, and number of developing seeds across all the locations. Biochemical analysis revealed that developing seeds contained higher proteins (24%), amino acids (34%), and starch (49%) content compared to leaves and pod peel. Mineral analysis showed that leaves contained the highest amount of calcium (Ca—28,610 ppm), followed by potassium (K—5179 ppm) and magnesium (Mg—4166 ppm). Developing seeds are rich K (13,958 ppm), followed by phosphorous (P—3828 ppm) and Ca (3502 ppm). Pod peel exhibited very high levels of K (11,552 ppm), followed by Ca (3618 ppm) and Mg (1970 ppm). Among micronutrients, sodium (Na), Iron (Fe), and silicon (Si) were present in high amounts. Developing seeds contained the highest concentration of Na (814 ppm) compared to other micronutrients. Pod peel possessed more Na (937 ppm) and Si (450 ppm) compared to other micronutrients. Overall results indicated that N. bracteata has a good nutritional potential which can be further explored for human and animal nutrition. Understanding morphological and biochemical variations will be useful for the conservation, domestication, and breeding of N. bracteata.