Nutritional and mineral composition analysis of desert plants: A case study

The wild arid and semi-arid plants of desert are used as food and medicine by the people of Desert. In this case study, selected plants were characterized physico-chemically for their nutritional and mineral importance by different analytical methods. Analysis showed that crude fibers and protein dominated in plant samples among all nutrients with an average concentration of 38% and 21% respectively. The edible parts of plants generally showed higher concentration of Ca and Mg as compared to Na and K. Calligonum polygonoides found comparatively rich in total sugars and ash contents. Similarly, crude fibers (45%), crude lipids (16%) and phosphorous (32 ppm) were observed higher in Leptadenia pyrotechnica. However, Prosopis cineraria contained higher contents of moisture and protein (24%) among other plants. The statistical presentation by discrimination analysis showed that arid plant found rich in most of the nutrients and minerals except phosphorous and proteins as compared to semi-arid plants with relatively higher moisture contents.