Ethnobotany, nutritional composition and DPPH radical scavenging of leafy vegetables of wild Paederia foetida and Erechtites hieracifolia

Study on ethnobotany, nutritional composition and DPPH radical scavenging of leafy vegetables of wild Paederia foetida and Erechtites hieracifolia in two villages of Pandaan City, East Java, Indonesia, have been done. A focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview showed that the wild plants are well recognized and commonly consumed by local people. The samples, collected from local forest of the two villages, were analyzed for the proximate composition, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamin C and total phenol contents; and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Both leafy vegetables are potential dietary fiber, Ca, Na, K and Fe sources. Vitamin C content of the leafy vegetable of Paederia foetida (271.40±42.65 mg/100g ) was much higher than that of Erechtites hieracifolia (20.62±1.63 mg/100 g). Both leafy vegetables are potential antioxidant sources with IC50 values of 4.53 mg/mL and 8.46 mg/mL, respectively for methanolic extract of leafy vegetable of wild Paederia foetida and Erechtites hieracifolia.