Nutritional, Elemental and Phytochemical Analysis of Malva neglecta and Nastrurtium officinale

Abstract

This study documented the ethnobotanical uses and evaluated the phytochemical and nutritional composition of Malva neglecta wallr and Nasturtium officinale W.T Aiton from the study area. Data were collected from 50 informants through interviews and discussions. Both species are widely used as food and medicine; Malva neglecta wallr is consumed as cooked vegetables and used for cough, bronchitis, urinary disorders, and skin infections, while Nasturtium officinale W.T Aiton is eaten fresh in salads and used to treat liver, kidney ailments, respiratory infections, and vitamin C deficiency. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols in both plants, while glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids were detected only in Malva neglecta wallr. Proximate analysis showed that Malva neglecta wallr contained 69.03% carbohydrates, 9.57% ash, 8.85% moisture, 5.50% fiber, 4.11% fat, and 2.94% protein, whereas Nasturtium officinale W.T Aiton contained 70.78% carbohydrates, 10.15% ash, 8.44% moisture, 4.35% fiber, 4.02% fat, and 2.26% protein. These findings highlight the nutritional and medicinal importance of these wild edible plants, supporting their role as functional foods and potential sources of bioactive compounds.