D. DHYANI^1*, SHALINI DHYANI ²
*Corresponding author
1. Society for Conserving Planet And Life (COPAL), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
2. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, India.

Abstract

Perilla frutescens has been a food supplement of hill people of Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. Due to insufficient utilisation techniques, poor research and marketing strategies, this oil seed crop species always remain neglected. Here an effort has done to highlight the potential of this underutilised species for its better utilisation and conservation through identifying the nutritional, food and energy value of Perilla. The analysed results showed that Perilla seed contains a total of 7.6% moisture and 3.5% of ash contents. Proximate nutrient revealed a good composition of fat (43.57%), fibre (21.54%) carbohydrate (19.48%), protein (11.14%), lipids (15.43%) and organic matter (94.5%). Seed also contained imperative macronutrients in which the amount of potassium was 497.35mg/100g, magnesium was 322.43mg/100g, calcium was 226.33mg/100g and phosphorus was 212.25mg/100g. Micronutrients included significant amount of iron (16.22mg), zinc (11.6mg) and copper (1.04mg) per 100g. Besides, the energy value of 1091.45kJ was estimated for 100 g of seeds. Present investigation could be an informative database on nutritional and food potential of Perilla and could be a platform for researchers, scientists, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies to explore possibilities of endorsing, conserving and commercialising this underutilised traditional oilseed crop.

INTRODUCTION

Underutilised traditional crops (UTCs) play an important role in diversification of cropping system together with enhancement of nutritional and economical security in the Himalayan regions (1). North-West Himalayan region of Uttarakhand state in India is distinguished by cultivation of over 40 traditional crop species of cereals, millets, pulses and oil-seeds. (2). Unfortunately, a number of traditional crops are at the verge of extinction due to insufficient research and development activities and partly because nutritional values of these crops are known to the wider community and local farmers are unable to meet their economic development aspirations from cultivation of these crops (3,4). This ignorance is also leading to the genetic erosion of their diversity and usefulness, further restricting development options for the rural poor. Besides, the policy of supplying staple food grains at subsidized price, cultivation of cash crops and absence or low priced market of traditional agro-products jeopardised the traditional agro-biodiversity of higher Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. Perilla frutescens, having high food, nutritional and medi ...