Nutritional, anti-nutritional and morphological characterization of wild edible species of Solanum found in North East India

This study explores the extensive variation in nutritional, anti-nutritional, and morphological characteristics observed among various Solanum species. A thorough investigation was conducted on several Solanum species, including S. torvum, S. nigrum, S. macrocarpon, S. ferox, S. spirale, S. villosum, S. gilo (white), and S. violaceum (spineless). Morphological parameters such as plant height, flower count, fruit length, and girth were measured. Nutritional analysis encompassed total carbohydrates, starch, cellulose, total sugar, reducing sugar, and total soluble protein. Anti-nutritional factors, including phytic acid and cyanogen content, were also assessed. Statistical analyses were employed to identify significant variations among the species. S. torvum stood out with the highest plant height (161.16 ± 5.67 cm) and prolific number of flowers per inflorescence (12.49 ± 1.55), contrasting sharply with S. nigrum , which exhibited the smallest fruit length (6.08 ± 0.43 mm) and girth (6.48 ± 0.55 mm). Notably, S. macrocarpon displayed a unique morphology, characterized by maximal fruit girth (73.65 ± 0.65 mm) and the lowest number of flowers per inflorescence (2.04 ± 0.43). S. nigrum , as a short-period plant, demonstrated the shortest time to first flowering (19.94 ± 3.63 days) and fruit development (31.27 ± 2.99 days). In terms of nutritional composition, S. macrocarpon exhibited the highest total carbohydrates (47.44 ± 1.75 mg/g) and starch (8.76 ± 0.16 mg/g) but the lowest cellulose (0.75 ± 0.007 mg/g). Conversely, S. ferox showcased the highest total sugar (7.33 ± 0.78 mg/g) and reducing sugar (3.86 ± 0.40 mg/g). S. spirale , however, presented the lowest total sugar (2.37 ± 0.12 mg/g) and reducing sugar (0.23 ± 0.03 mg/g), while S. torvum recorded the highest cellulose (2.04 ± 0.08 mg/g). S. villosum exhibited the maximum total soluble protein (1.54 ± 0.03 mg/g), while S. gilo (white) had the lowest (0.74 ± 0.03 mg/g). In terms of anti-nutritional factors, S. spirale displayed the highest phytic acid content (5.34 ± 0.18 mg/g), whereas S. ferox showed the lowest (0.72 ± 0.01 mg/g). Additionally, S. violaceum (spineless) exhibited the highest cyanogen content (54.24 ± 0.59 µg/g), while S. gilo (green) recorded the lowest cyanogen content (12.72 ± 0.56 µg/g). The observed variations in morphological and nutritional traits among Solanum species indicate the potential for selective breeding and cultivation to enhance desirable characteristics for both agricultural and nutritional purposes. Understanding the disparities in anti-nutritional factors is essential for mitigating potential health risks associated with the consumption of certain species.