Hydrogen cyanide and other anti-nutritional contents of some edible plant parts commonly available in manipur

Some of the commonly available fruits, plant parts contain anti-nutritional constituents, which are toxic to the consumers. To validate this information an experiment is planned for the estimation of hydrogen cyanide and other anti-nutritional matters like saponine, phytic acid, cyanide, total and bound phenol, ortho-dihydric phenol, tannin and phytate), from 9 edible plants which are commonly available in Manipur are selected viz., 6 plants from Rosaceae family [Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L. var. Kalen heikha, Prunus domestica L. Var. Mao Heikha, Prunus persica (L.) Stokes var. light pink flower, Prunus persica (L.)Stokes var. deep pink flower], 2 plants from Euphorbiaceae [Manihot esculenta var. red cortexand Manihot esculenta var. whitecortex] and 1 plant from Leguminosae family [Phaseolus lunatus]. Evaluation of nutritive and anti-nutritional value of these selected samples provides an easily accessible natural source that could be used as food supplement. Though all the analysed fruits containsaponins, phytates and tannins, it is found that the edible pulp of the six fruits namely Docynia indica, Prunus armeniaca, P. domestica, P. persica are useful for consumption and the seed of these six fruits were dangerous to health if taken at a large quantity. Fresh consumption of Manihot esculenta root in large quantity is dangerous to human being.