Lito Project-project 3 of project 6-BSU

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“Towards a Sustainable Semi-Temperate Vegetable Production: Characterization and Propagation of Indigenous Vegetables

of the Highland Cordilleras”

Lorenza G. Lirio, Manuel A. Balcita, Louisa P. Pladio, Lito O. Ayyokad, and Joyce N. Paing

ABSTRACT

Survey and botanical characterization of the indigenous vegetables(IVs) in Benguet and Mountain Province were undertaken through a participatory approach with the local folks who were asked about their traditional uses of wild, endemic, and indigenous food plants, their manner of use and preparation of edible parts, and other uses besides as food. The survey documented 49 species of plants belonging to 21 families, which are eaten as food, mostly utilizing the young shoots or tops. Chemical analyses revealed that IVs are indeed rich in minerals, vitamins, proteins, antioxidants, etc., which are necessary to meet the nutritional requirements of the consumer. Toxicity test indicated that IVs are safe to eat. In-vitro culture is one possible way of propagating IVs.

In order to increase awareness on the utilization of these important food crops, several strategies were undertaken. A book with the title “Indigenous Semi Temperate Vegetables of Cordillera” was published recently. Each plant presented in the book was provided with photograph, botanical descriptions, common or local name used in the place where the plant is found, scientific name, and other uses besides as food. Also, flyers and handbook on food/viand preparation using the vegetable crop as one of the ingredients in the menu, and posters were made. Meanwhile, home gardening of promising indigenous vegetables in selected areas is underway.

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays people go back to the nature’s basics, whether in terms of farming

practices, herbal treatment of maladies or indigenous food supplements in attempts to

protect the environment. More so, during these difficult times, there is a need to tap our

nature’s free gifts for alternative additional sources that would ease our demand for

medicine, shelter, fuel, etc, but most especially for food.

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Insufficient vegetable and fruit consumption annually causes 2.7 million deaths

worldwide and is one of top 10 risk factors contributing to human mortality. Billions of

people are still undernourished, and they have not sufficiently benefited from the

vegetable production and consumption. Nutrition status is internationally recognized as

a key indicator of national development. It is not surprising therefore why over fifty

countries worldwide had so much interest on indigenous vegetables (Yang et al., 2007).

The above scenario should have been the guiding principle of the Programmang

Gulayan Para sa Masa, a project of the national government, which aims to reduce

hunger and malnutrition in selected areas of the country. It is a vegetable backyard-

raising program to provide livelihood opportunities and easy access to more affordable

vegetables. Offshoots of the said program are other national endeavors like that of the

Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research’s (DA–BAR’s) “Indigenous

Plants for Health and Wellness Research and Development Program” which aims to

promote and to highlight the importance of indigenous plants and to encourage farmers

to plant them. Another program is that by the National Nutrition Council of the

Philippines--the FAITH (Food Available in the Home), which is a low cost undertaking

that aims to increase production of common fruits and vegetables in one’s backyard

(Ordoñez, 2007). Indeed, the political environment is currently favorable for efforts to

enhance the sustainable use of underultilized plant species, such as IVs.

A place of many tribal groups, the Cordillera region is home to a diversity of

endemic and indigenous plant species and even customary practices, which have

captured the interests of environmentalists, researchers, and other enthusiasts. Tribal

areas harbor a rich array of indigenous wild varieties and landraces, and are the source

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of valuable genes. Traits governing taste, cooking quality, nutritional value, yield

stability rather than yield per se, and other attributes such as drought resistance are of

equal importance (Arunachalam, 2000). It is this supply of reserve food that man

appropriates for future use. The essential foods, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, each

valuable in its own way in man’s metabolism, are all available in plants. The leafy parts

of plants, the green, and other herbage vegetables, contain comparatively little stored

food. However, they are necessary because of the vitamins and minerals they contain

and the mechanical effect of the indigestive cellulose material (Hill, 1952). A

considerable variety of vegetable species are indigenous to Cordillera. Among this

biodiversity many plants exist with promising properties for different uses. There is a

need to collate and analyze information on the species of potential value and their

distribution which is a first step necessary in formulating a plan on which

conservationists can develop appropriate strategies for the propagation and wise

utilization of these plant species including the indigenous vegetables.

OBJECTIVES

General: To survey, characterize, conserve, and propagate indigenous germplasm of

the highland Cordilleras in order to uplift the livelihood of farmers through a sustainable

semi-temperate vegetable production.

Specific:

a. To survey and make a thorough inventory of indigenous vegetables of the

highland Cordilleras

b. To document the ethnobotanical utilization of these indigenous vegetables

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c. To conduct in-situ propagation of indigenous vegetables likewise determine

in-vitro propagation protocols

d. To undertake chemical analyses of the nutrient content of the various

indigenous vegetables such as proximate, vitamin, antioxidant, and mineral

contents

e. To conduct toxicity tests for some selected IVs

f. To disseminate results to end users in order to increase the awareness on the

utilization of the indigenous vegetables

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In technical sense, all plants are vegetables. The term, however, is usually

applied to edible plants, which store up reserve food in roots, stems, leaves, and fruits

and which are eaten cooked, or raw as salad plants. The food value of vegetables is

comparatively low, owing to the large amount of water present (70 to 95%). Even so,

they rank next to cereals as source of carbohydrates food which are usually present in

the form of starch, although occasionally sugar, pectins, or other substances may occur.

Proteins, save in legumes, are rarely available, and fats are stored only in very slight

amounts. The nutritive value of vegetables is increased greatly, however, by the

presence of the indispensable mineral salts and vitamins, while the roughage value of

the various tissues aids digestion (Hill, 1952).

The word vegetable is used to designate an edible, mostly herbaceous plant

species, or a relatively tender part of it, that is consumed fresh, steamed or boiled,

salted or unsalted, alone or in combination with other foodstuffs and sometimes as an

ingredient in soups or stews (Okigbo, 1990). Indigenous vegetables refer to species or

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variety genuinely native to a region, or to a crop introduced into a region where it has

evolved (or has been naturalized) over a period of time. Most of these underutilized

these species range from those that are regularly cultivated to those that are completely

wild as weeds, resistant to pest and diseases, better adapted to their ecology, and

which could be a storehouse of desirable traits necessary for the improvement of

vegetable species. In addition to being cost effective supplementary sources of calories

and some proteins, these vegetables when sold, contribute significantly to the farmers’

income (AVRDC, 1990; Yang et al., 2006 ).

IVs have been a traditional part of cropping system long time ago especially in

home gardens and their cultivation, utilization, and acceptability do not usually pose

problems because they are familiar to the local population (Chadha and Olouch, 2007).

It is also well known that plants are abundant sources of medicinal drugs.

Between 25-50% of current prescription pharmaceuticals come from plants, either

directly or through modifications of biochemical templates harvested from the plants

(Deans and Kennedy, 1995 as cited by Lirio, 2000).

In the past decade or two, due to the rapid advances in science and technology,

particularly in food, nutrition, health and biochemistry, human beings have become

more aware of health and longevity. Nutraceutical crops are getting recognition and

they are mobilized globally for production and use. The demand for nature-made

medicines and pharmaceutical products will dictate the choice of crops. The demand

for natural energy source will hunt crops for biofuels. Presently, the world is primarily

concerned with conserving the biodiversity of major food crops. Preserving the

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biodiversity of IVs which may not stand a chance to survive the onslaught of human

development is extremely important to focus on (Shanmugasundaram, 2007).

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Indigenous vegetables play an important role in the Cordilleran diet. Several

inputs are necessary in an effort to know and document the indigenous vegetables

utilized by old folks and other native respondents (Fig. 1). The surveyed IVs were

identified, characterized, and validated. Some of the IVs were subjected to nutritional

analyses to determine proximate, vitamin, antioxidant, and mineral contents in order to

give the consumer, ideas of what they really get when they eat such food crop.

Documentation of the surveyed IVs in the CAR Region were compiled into a handbook

entitled “Indigenous Semi-Temperate Vegetables of Cordillera” (Lirio, et al., 2006);

nutrient contents of IVs, compilation of recipes using IVs as ingredients, and flyers and

posters were made for further dissemination of the IVs importance and their utilization.

The role vegetables in providing essential vitamins and minerals in the diet are

often conceded though not applied in practice. Limited food limits the nutrient intake that

is necessary for good bodily functions. This project, therefore, endeavors to increase

the awareness on IVs which necessary to help diversify production systems, income

and diets in order to produce healthy and productive people, all crucial in attaining the

goal to alleviate hunger, malnutrition, and poverty.

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METHODOLOGY

Diversity of Indigenous Vegetables in the Cordillera

A. Survey of the Indigenous Vegetables

Trips were made to selected semi-temperate parts of the Cordillera, namely

Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao and including Baguio City to conduct survey about

the distribution and utilization of indigenous vegetables. Elders, farmers, and staff

member of the municipal agriculture offices were interviewed. Impromptu inquiries with

any person met on gardens, households, or during informal gatherings of folks were

also made. They were asked about indigenous knowledge and traditional uses of wild,

indigenous and endemic food plants, their manner of preparation of edible plant parts

and other uses besides as food.

INPUTS a) Survey of Indigenous Vegetables, and Interview ♦ Identification ♦ Characterization ♦ Validation b) Nutritional Analyses ♦ Proximate ♦ Vitamin ♦ Antioxidant ♦ Mineral

OUTPUTS � Compilation of

surveyed IVs � Posters and

Flyers � Nutrient contents of IVs analyzed � Compilation of

recipes using IVs as ingredients

IMPACTS � Awareness on IVs � Utilization of IVs � Planting of IVs for

increased production

� Increased farmer’s

income � Healthy and

productive people � Healthy environment � Poverty alleviation

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

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The plants were photodocumented, botanically described as to: stem (woody or

succulent), growth habit (vine, herb, etc), propagation (thru seed, rhizome, etc), habitat

(swampy, dry, etc), and their uses.

B. Ethnobotanical Utilization of the Indigenous Vegetables

Ethnobotanical information about the plants was obtained including food

consumption and medicinal utilization as captured during the interviews with the rural

folks.

Also vendors and consumers of indigenous vegetables were interviewed in the

different municipalities of Benguet and Mountain Province to determine the economic

potential of these crops.

Conservation of Indigenous Vegetables

A. In-vitro Propagation

Propagation in-vitro of the selected indigenous vegetable was done at the

Biology Department Tissue Culture Laboratory, College of Arts and Sciences, Benguet

State University.

B. In-situ Propagation

Conservation of the indigenous vegetables was initiated in the municipality of

Sagada, Mountain Province through participatory home gardening.

Nutritional Analyses of Indigenous Vegetables

A. Nutrient and Vitamin Analyses

Selected IVs were subjected to different chemical analyses of their contents.

The proximate analysis consists of the determination of moisture or volatile matter, ash,

(using the combustion method), crude fat (by Soxhlet method), crude protein (by

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Kjeldahl method), crude fiber (thru Weende method), and carbohydrate (by

spectroscopic determination of the furfural by the action of sulfuric acid). Solvent

extraction and HPLC or the spectrophotometer were used to determine vitamins A and

C. Antioxidant activity and mineral analysis likewise used appropriate procedures

(Manual of Food Analysis, 1991).

B. Toxicity Test of Indigenous Vegetables

Some selected IVs were subjected to a toxicity test using brine shrimp bioassay

(as adopted by Bolayo, 2006).

Dissemination of information

Educational materials were prepared as strategies to disseminate the result of

the project. Book, recipe handbook, flyers , and posters are some outputs of the

project, which when distributed, hoped to boost the awareness on the utilization of these

important food plants. Efforts were also done to present results in various local,

regional, national, and international venues/ conferences to enhance people’s

awareness on IVs.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

DIVERSITY OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES IN THE CORDILLERA

Biodiversity is essential for agriculture and food production since humankind is

depending on extremely small basis for agricultural and biological diversity for its food.

Moreover biodiversity has to be managed in such a way as to assure it will continue to

provide maximum benefits to humans over the long run.

The diversity of the indigenous food crops in the Cordillera documented forty-

nine (49) indigenous vegetables from the 11 municipalities of Benguet and from the 4

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municipalities in Mountain Province and including Baguio City. These plants belong to

21 families with about 19.15% of the species belonging to Asteraceae, followed by

10.64% in Solanaceae. The rest are distributed among the other families (Figure 2).

Table 1 presents the list of the indigenous semi-temperate vegetables, including

the five unidentified species, showing the mode of preparation when used as food and

including the parts being utilized.

Figure 2. Plant distribution per family

40.42%

4.26%4.26%

6.38%6.38%

8.51%

10.64%

19.15%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Percentage

Asteraceae

Solanaceae

Amaranthaceae

Cruciferae

Passifloraceae

Begoniaceae

Leguminosae

Other families

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Table 1. Indigenous vegetables in the highland Cordilleras CROP PLANT PART MODE OF PREPARATION

Common Name

Scientific Name

Kalunay Amaranthus blitum L. young shoots / tops

plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat

Kalunay Amaranthus gracilis Desf. young shoots / tops


Kalunay Amaranthus hybridus L. young shoots / tops


Kalunay siitan Amaranthus spinosus L. young shoots / tops


Pikaw Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb) Zoll and Motr.

young plant plainly blanched / steamed or mixed with meat

Kaominga Begonia sp. Stalk eaten raw or as condiment for fish and meat

Kaominga Begonia sp. Stalk eaten raw or as condiment for fish and meat

Palpasik Cardamine hirsuta L. young plant plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat

Raddish Raphanus sativus L. flowers and young leaves /tops


Gendey Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern young shoots / tops


Prince Crown Cactus

Echinopsis coronata Bulb eaten as salad or for garnish

Salengsaleng Spergula arvensis L. young shoots / tops


Bulakmanok Ageratum conyzoides Linn.

young shoots / tops


Puriket Bidens bipinnata Linn. young shoots / tops


Puriket Bidens pilosa L. Var. Minor

young shoots / tops


Haphapon Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth) S. Moore

young shoots / tops


Lagiwey Lactuca indica L. young shoots / tops

plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat / as salad

Gagattang Sonchus arvensis L. young shoots / tops


Gagattang Sonchus asper Hill young shoots / tops


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Table 1. continued…

Gagattang Sonchus oleraceus L. young shoots / tops


Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (With). Weber

young shoots / tops

eaten as salad and for food garnish

Alam-am Pteridium aquilinum L. young shoots / tops

dried shoots are mixed with meat or legumes or as tea

Kamoteng kahoy

Manihot esculenta Crantz.

young shoots / tops


Runo Miscanthus sinensis young stalk eaten raw / salad

Catnip Nepeta cataria Linn. young shoots / tops

plainly blanched/ steamed mixed with meat or legumes or as tea

Lima bean Phaseolus lunatus L. young shoots / tops


Sweet pea Pisum sativum L. young shoots / tops


Mulberry Morus alba L. young shoots / tops


Bitog Musa spp. middle most stalk

steamed mixed with meat

Binaok Ambelia philippinensis Leaves condiment for fish and meat

Native masap Pasiflora edulis Sims. young shoots / tops


American masap

Pasiflora ligularis young shoots / tops


Western masap

Passiflora quadrangularis Linn.

young shoots / tops


Pako Athyrium esculentum (Retz)

young shoots / tops


Gabing uwak Monochoria vaginalis(Burm.f.) Presl.

young plant plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat

Pansit-pansitan

Peperomia pelucida (L.) HBK

young shoot / young plant

plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat / salad

Alusiman Portulaca oleracea Linn. young shoots / tops

mixed with meat and fish

Dam a de noche

Cestrum nocturnum young shoots / tops


Gubayas Physalis angulata L. young shoots / tops and fruit


Amti Solanum nigrum L. young shoots / tops


Patatas Solanum tuberosum L. young shoots / tops


Papait Solanum sp. young fruit Sautéed

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Table 1. continued…

Takip kuhol Centella asiatica (L.) Urban

young shoots / tops

plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat / salad

Panawil Leptosalena haenkei Flower mixed with fish and meat

Baukok Fruit mixed with fish and meat / condiment

Inangel young shoot plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat

Kunchey / Tang-tangsoy

young shoot / young plant


Soria young shoot / young plant


Kokong-ngo young shoot plainly blanched/ steamed or mixed with legumes or meat

ETHNOBOTANICAL UTILIZATION OF THE INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES Today, millions of traditional peoples still use plants as sources of food, clothing,

shelter, fuel and medicine. Since the beginning of mankind, people have relied primarily

on plants for nourishment. Through trial and error they discovered that some plants are

good for food, that some are poisonous, and that others produce bodily changes such

as increased perspiration, bowel movement, urination, relief of pain, hallucination, and

healing. Over the millennia, those observations were passed orally from generation to

generation, each time adding to and refining the body of knowledge. Each culture the

world over has in this manner developed a body of herbal knowledge as part of its

tradition (Cotton, 1996).

In the Cordillera region as presented in this paper, the most widely used as food

in terms of the number of species are the Amaranthus spp. (4 species), Sonchus spp.

(3 species), Passiflora spp. (3 species). Interestingly, these same species possess

some medicinal value. These plants are included in the 51% of the species that are

used by the folks to cure or prevent different forms of illnesses (Table 2).

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Table 2. Traditional utilization of native vegetables used as medicine in the Cordillera CROP MEDICINAL VALUE

Common Name Scientific Name

Kalunay Amaranthus gracilis Desf. emollient poultices

Kalunay siitan Amaranthus spinosus L. antidote for snake bite and cure for kidney and bowel ailments

Raddish Raphanus sativus L. prevents diabetes

Gendey Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern cure for chronic bronchitis and colds

Bulakmanok Ageratum conyzoides Linn. cure for fresh wounds

Puriket Bidens bipinnata Linn. cure for diarrhea

Gagattang Sonchus arvensis L. emollient, chronic fevers, coughs, bronchitis, etc.

Gagattang Sonchus asper Hill emollient, cure for boils and wounds

Gagattang Sonchus oleraceus L. for cleansing wounds

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (With). Weber

for liver and kidney complaints or disorders

Runo Miscanthus sinensis use to treat wounds

Catnip Nepeta cataria Linn. for colds and fever

Mulberry Morus alba L. use an eyewash to cure sore eyes

Native masap Pasiflora edulis Sims. for hypertension and arthritis, good for hang-over & diarrhea

Pansit-pansitan Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK used for urinary tract infection (UTI)

Alusiman Portulaca oleracea Linn. used to heal wounds and scurvy

Dama de noche Cestrum nocturnum preventive for ulcer and good for hang-over

Amti Solanum nigrum L. decoction for mouth wash, wounds, sores

Patatas Solanum tuberosum L. for mumps

Takip kuhol Centella asiatica (L.) Urban for urinary tract infections and kidney trouble; also for cleansing wounds

Among the Amaranthus spp., only two, Amaranthus. gracilis (Fig. 3a) and A.

spinosus (Fig. 3b) were found to possess medicinal values as emollient poultice, for

bowel and kidney ailments and as antidote for snake bites. Amaranthus blitum and A.

hybridus are the species only utilized as food. Even with the Passiflora spp. not all have

medicinal uses; while P. ligularis has no medicinal value noted so far, the juice of the P.

edulis (Fig. 3c) is used widely as relief for arthritis, for hypertension; also good for hang-

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Fig. 3. Some indigenous semi-temperate vegetables: (a) Amaranthus gracilis (b) A. spinosus (c) Passiflora edulis (d) P. quarangularis (e) Solanum nigrum (f) S. tuberosum

over and diarrhea. P. quadrangularis (Fig. 3d) is good as body cleanser apart from its

fermented juice made into wine. The same is also true with the Solanum spp.. S.

nigrum (Fig. 3e) and S. tuberosum (Fig. 3f) are medicinal apart from their young shoots

being cooked as vegetable and mixed with legume or meat.

In terms of frequency, Rorippa indica (Fig. 4a), Bidens pilosa (Fig. 4b), Solanum

nigrum (Fig. 4c), Sonchus arvensis (Fig. 4d), and Cardamine hirsuta (Fig. 4e) are used

as food in most places of the municipalities where they are present. Similarly, these

species have medicinal uses. B. pilosa for example is popularly eaten because folks

claim of its goiter- preventive property. Folks also use the plant in ‘tapey’ (rice wine)-

making, a tradition they are known for. The value of these representatives and other

species not only as food but as medicines as well, should be reasons for their wider

utilization.

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On the other hand, though widely medicinal and some species while found

growing in several localities, a certain species is not being utilized as food in many

places where they are found. As an example, Centella asiatica could be found growing

and used as medicinal in most places surveyed but it is only utilized as food in Baguio

City, in La Trinidad, Benguet, and in Sagada, Mountain Province. As a medicinal plant,

old folks use the decoction of C. asiatica as cleansing for urinary tract infections and

kidney trouble. Leaves of the fresh plant when pounded are also used to cure bleeding

wounds when applied as dressing over the affected part. Roots of this plant contain

Fig. 4 a) Rorippa indica, b) Bidens pilosa, c) Sonchus arvensis d) Cardamine hirsuta e) Centella asiatica

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substances used as tonic, blood purifier and improve memory. Also, the folks believe

that eating of fresh leaves everyday will prolong life.

Guevarra et al. (1999) stated that plants have long been used to cure and / or

prevent many diseases. The observed efficacy of these plants has made them very

popular and in fact, some are considered as “cure-all” medicine. Solanum nigrum is

one plant that is known as antidiabetes and has hypoglycemic or blood glucose

lowering activity.

The role of food plants in the development of human culture has been

emphasized, but it should be noted that food plants are not the only one’s that have a

vital place in man’s economy. There are also plant drugs and poisons, fiber plants, dye

and tanning plants, the oil, the gum and resin sources, the structural timber plants, and

others. Plant chemicals continue to provide an important range of products to both

traditional and industrialized communities. These are obtained from plants that are able

to synthesize and accumulate a vast array of secondary chemical which are beneficial

to human societies.

COMMERCIALIZATION OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES

To alleviate and reduce poverty among Cordilleran, one of the strategies is to

promote economic opportunities, empowering the poor, and enhancing social safety.

The later is directed to attain better health and nutrition particularly for low-income

households, to decrease nutrition deficiency and to have a better environment for safer

living. Indigenous vegetables have been known and are utilized in some ethnics as

vegetables, spice, ornamental and traditional medicine. However, progressive

development in agriculture, social and economy as well as culture, for example, a

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common use of modern vegetable varieties has put IVs as minor vegetables. Through

the Regional Education and Technology Assistance (RETA) 6067 project, efforts have

been initiated in order to promote utilization of IVs for improving nutrition and livelihood

of poor household in Asia including Cordillera (Hidayat, et. al. 2006). In fact, this project

has documented the efforts to commercialize these IVs in some municipalities in

Benguet and Mountain Province, including Baguio City (Table 3). Of the 49 IVs

surveyed, eleven (11) had already reached the local market. These include Amti,

Gendey, Gotukola, Kalunay, Kinawang, Lagiwey, Masaplora, Pako, Palpalsik, Papait,

Radish. The market of these IVs is comparatively lower than the commercial

vegetables. In most surveys done, Amti and Kalunay were the most common IVs being

sold in the local market followed by Masaplora and Pako. Generally the IVs are sold at a

lower price of Php. 10.00 per bundle. Even then, their total cash income realized from

the sale of these IVs range from 100-150 pesos per market day, i.e. is every Sunday.

CONSERVATION OF SOME INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES

A. IN-SITU PROPAGATION

The survey reveals that IVs are being propagated in-situ. In the Cordillera, some

parts in the region are now cultivating IVs in their backyards. Amaranthus spp. and

Solanum spp. were the most commonly grown and sold in the local markets of the

municipalities of Sagada, La Trinidad, Bontoc, Bokod and including Baguio City. Other

IVs which include Kalunay, Amti, Papait, and Lagiwey are grown as borders in their

fields, as intercrops with commercial vegetables, and as monocrops.

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In this regard an informal collaboration had been forged with the Northern

Sagada Women’s Organization in Sagada, Mountain Province to help in the promotion

of home gardening in their nearby communities.

B. IN-VITRO PROPAGATION

With the concern of supplying future market demands and the foreseen intense

degradative pressure on natural environments of native species, it is important to

conserve and multiply the germplasm through in vitro tissue culture technique.

Lagiwey (Lactuca indica L), is one among the plants that undergo in-vitro culture.

The initial result of the study showed that stem sections of Lagiwey responded positively

to the different treatments of varying concentrations of IAA and BA with regards to

callus initiation and formation. Although there were differences in the number of days

for callus initiation, callus formation was observed in all experimental treatments.

On the aspect of shoot initiation and formation, treatment 4 (0 ppm IAA and 1

ppm BA) exhibited the most number of shoots formed among all the other experimental

treatments.

As to root initiation and proliferation, in-vitro derived shoots implanted in the

different rooting media exhibited root initiation and proliferation. Meanwhile, in-vitro

culture for Kaominga and Tangtangsoy did not prosper due to non-acceptable rates of

contamination. Other promising IVs are similarly being propagated.

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Table 3. Importance and value of Indigenous Vegetables PLACES Amti Gendey Gotukola Kalunay Kinawang Lagiwey Masaplora Pako Palpalsik Papait Radish Benguet

Atok 2 (1) 3 (1) Bokod 3 (1) 3 (1) 3 (1) Kapangan 3 (1) 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (1) La Trinidad 3 (2) 2 (1) 3 (2) 3 (2) 3 (2) 1 (1) 1 (1) 2 (2) Mankayan 3 (1) 2 (1) 3 (1) 1 (1) 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (3) 2 (1) Baguio City 3 (2) 1 (1) 3 (2) 3 (2) 1 (1) 1 (1) 2 (1)

Mountain Province

Bauko 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (1) Bontoc 3 (1) 3 (1) 2 (1) Sagada 3 (1) 2 (1) 3 (1) 2 (1)

• Importance (as frequency of use and how common each species was in the market) was assessed on the scale of 1-3 where: Legend: 1 – consumption / presence in market – very rare 2 - consumption / presence in market – very occasional 3 - consumption / presence in market – very common * Numbers in parenthesis represent value assessed on the scale of 1-3 where: Legend: (1) - low (Php. 10.00) (2) - average (Php. 15.00) (3) - high (> Php. 20.00)

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NUTRITIONAL ANALYSES OF INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES

IVs remain the cheapest source of important protein, vitamins, minerals and

essential amino acids in the diet of many rural communities like the Cordillera.

Nutritional analyses revealed that some indigenous vegetables have notably even

higher nutrient contents if not comparable to Brassica chinensis that served as control.

Most IVs analyzed have higher total ash contents as compared with B. chinensis

(Table 4). Higher total ash content implies higher mineral contents of the plants.

Solanum nigrum has the highest value for crude protein (33.12%) so with Amaranthus

blitum, Rorripa indica, and Bidens pilosa. Proteins are essential components of every

living cell and are utilized in the formation and regeneration of tissues.

Table 4. Proximate Analysis of IVs Indigenous Vegetables

Moisture (%)

Total Ash (%)

Crude Protein (%)

Crude Fat (%)

Crude Fiber (%)

Total CHO (%)

Amaranthus blitum 6.00 2.82 26.10 23.01 7.31 34.76 Bidens pilosa 10.64 11.00 23.12 2.92 7.40 44.92 Cestrum nocturnum 5.37 4.65 0.38 8.61 11.02 69.97 Passiflora edulis 5.74 1.73 0.38 8.59 10.71 72.85 Rorippa indica 9.45 11.71 26.01 3.84 8.10 40.89 Solanum nigrum 9.64 10.05 33.12 0.73 4.94 41.52 Sonchus arvensis 10.43 15.94 19.04 4.08 11.40 39.11 Brassica chinensis 9.30 9.00 2.00 0.50 2.20 32.00

* Mean of 3 trials

The crude fat value of Amaranthus blitum, 23.01%, was notably the highest as

compared with the rest of the other IVs including that of the cultivated B. chinensis.

Dietary fats and oils are excellent sources of energy and they contribute to the

palatability of the diet. In terms of the crude fiber, all representative vegetable crops

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had higher contents compared with the control B. chinensis, with the highest values

noted in Sonchus arvensis, Cestrum nocturnum, and Passiflora edulis.

Vitamin Analysis

Vitamins are organic nutrients that are necessary in small amounts for normal

metabolism and good health. Vitamins are not sources of energy as are carbohydrates,

fats, and proteins. Instead, vitamins serve as chemicals partners for the enzymes

involved in the body’s metabolism, cell production, tissue repair and other vital

processes. Remarkably, Bidens pilosa has the highest value of vitamin C (347.5

mg/100g) and vitamin A (5,629.75 ug/100g) as shown in Table 5. As mentioned

previously, it was interestingly noted that the rural folks’ have other reasons for eating B.

pilosa. They say that the plant prevents goiter, and they use the leaves for ‘tapey’ (rice

wine) making. Perhaps this may well give the idea of developing B. pilosa similar to the

now very popular ‘malunggay’ (Moringa oleifera). It is not impossible to parallel the

current passion for Moringa as a ‘nutritional powerhouse’ (www.fao.org//docrep/007).

Many traditional food crops similarly provide wide array of health benefits.

Table 5. Vitamin Analysis of IVs Indigenous Vegetables Vitamin C

(mg/100g) Vitamin A (ug/100g)

Amaranthus blitum 44.47 152.98 Bidens pilosa 247.50 5,629.75 Cardamine hirsute 30.15 250.81 Cestrum nocturnum 39.25 474.20 Crassocephalum crepidioides 66.25 400.62 Passiflora edulis 17.05 168.30 Pteridium aquilinum 49.53 384.33 Sonchus arvensis 22.42 411.68 Solanum nigrum 70.22 398.70 Brassica chinensis 33.12 396.56

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Mineral Analysis

Both macronutrients (P, K, Ca) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn) were found present in

the tissues of the vegetable crops (Table 6) which are all necessary for normal body

functioning. To cite some, Potassium regulates stable blood pressure levels and may

help in the prevention of strokes; Calcium promotes healthy bones and teeth; aids in

weight loss and increases the breakdown of body fats and decreases its formation,

thereby maintaining blood pressure; Zinc protects the liver from damage, promotes

rapid healing of wounds, and maintains healthy prostate function.

Table 6. Tissue Analysis of IVs Indigenous Vegetables

P (%) K (%) Ca (%) Fe (ppm) Zn (ppm)

Amaranthus blitum 0.53 6.35 1.08 530 50 Bidens pilosa 0.40 3.33 1.74 517 103 Cestrum nocturnum 0.71 3.39 0.71 ND 83 Passiflora edulis 0.62 4.13 0.33 170 100 Rorippa indica 0.40 3.87 1.89 386 33 Sonchus arvensis 0.42 4.84 1.49 764 61 Solanum nigrum 0.42 2.75 1.63 329 44 Brassica chinensis 0.35 ND 1.68 370 ND

• ND = No Data

Antioxidant Activity

The antioxidant contents (Table 7) would prove that indigenous vegetables have

the ability to directly scavenge hydroxyl radicals and reduce harm from damaging

chemical processes in the body.

Fruits and vegetables are known to contain phytochemicals with antioxidant

properties. Antioxidants of plants such as phenolics, carotenoids and ascorbic acid are

considered beneficial to health and contribute to the prevention of some chronic

diseases. An adequate intake of natural antioxidants in food is therefore of great

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importance for protection of macromolecules against oxidative damage in cells

(Gutteridge, 1999).

Table 7. Antioxidant Activity Analysis of IVs Indige nous Vegetables Anti oxidant Activity (%)

Site properties Non-Site properties Amaranthus blitum 52.63 85.33 Bidens pilosa 58.49 81.20 Cestrum nocturnum 63.16 84.67 Crassocephalum crepidioides 23.26 90.73 Passiflora edulis 60.53 80.00 Pteridium aquilinum 33.72 90.73 Sonchus arvensis 60.53 80.67 Solanum nigrum 60.53 80.00 Brassica chinensis 25.58 90.73

BHA 68.42 84.00 BHT 80.26 94.67

Toxicity Test

Plants utilized by man as food contain undesirable natural products called toxins.

However, reports of the cyanogenic glycosides can be detoxified by adequate

processing technique or by traditional methods of preparation. A common method is

heating or cooking the plants, for some toxic components volatilize when the plant is

cooked hence making it safe for human consumption (Bolayo, 2006).

One indicator of the toxicity of a substance is LD50 which refers to the amount of

a substance that kills half of the test organisms. LD50 less than 30 µg/ml / 0.03 mg/ml

indicates toxicity.

A total of 8 species belonging to six genera were tested using the fresh and

ethanol extracts (Table 8). Three species of the fresh extract showed potential toxicity

25

against brine shrimps. These include Amaranthus blitum with an LD50 value of 1.55

µg/ml, Sonchus arvensis with a value of 3.81µg/ml, and Ambelia philippinensis with a

value of 11.22 µg/ml. However, ethanol extract of IVs showed no toxicity. As extracting

with organic solvent such as ethanol involves heating of the plant extract, this implies

that cooking or heating the food plants before consumption destroys the toxicity, thereby

making the IVs safe for human consumption.

Table 8. Toxicity Test of Indigenous Vegetables Family Name Scientific Name/

Local Name Parts

Utilized LD50 (µg/ml)

Fresh Ethanol Amaranthaceae

Amaranthus blitum (kalunay)

Shoots / Tops

1.55

681.17

Brassicaceae

Rorippa indica (gendey, kundey)

Shoots / Tops

512,861.38

84.43

Cardamine hirsuta (palpalsik)

Aerial part

1,071.51

592.83

Compositae

Bidens pilosa Puket/ puriket /pullet

Shoots / Tops

1,995.26

562.34

Sonchus arvensis (gagattang)

Aerial part

3.81

102.53

Myrsinaceae

Ambelia philippinensis (Bina-uk/ palungpong)

Leaves

11.22

35,939.40

Solanaceae

Solanum nigrum (amti/ nateng)

Shoot / Tops

102, 329.30

6,020.68

CONCLUSIONS

The nutritional contents of the indigenous vegetables provide the scientific basis

and the justification in recognizing them due to their nutritional contribution to human

health and in preventing ‘hidden hunger’. Knowing the nutritional contents of traditional

food species is an essential and positive step towards the goal of building health

awareness and promotion activities on IVs. These vegetables are naturally growing

26

along with the crops that can be found anywhere, which folks say they cook as viand to

vary flavor for the reason that they already feel satiated with the tastes of the cultivated

ones. Now it can be said that these plants they eat are highly nutritious ones. As major

sources of vitamins and minerals, they offer variety and broaden the food base. Uses of

indigenous vegetables vary from one community depending on satisfying the nutritional

needs and medicinal value. Successful food systems effectively draw on locally

available foods, food variety, and traditional food cultures.

IVs remain the cheapest sources of important proteins, vitamins, mineral, and

antioxidants. Recommendations to increase the intake of vegetables and fruits are

supported by a wealth of epidemiological data, most of which are related to preventing

cancer incidence. Undoubtedly, the increase in vegetable consumption should be one

of the primary approaches to combating nutritional disorders (Chadha and Olouch,

2007).

IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

More varied and better food products using these indigenous, readily available

resources should be a subject for future activity. Results of this study would provide

knowledge which is of paramount interest to scientific development in the fields of

pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals or foodstuffs, etc.

The country’s rich natural resources, its people’s unique customary practices are

important heritage that indeed need to be properly documented before they are gone.

Education campaign and community participation is a must in order to

disseminate activities, which are necessary to sustain nature’s biodiversity. In fact,

participatory strategy through home gardening will be the next activity of this project in

27

the areas of Bokod, Benguet, and Sabangan. In Sagada, Mountain Province

collaboration with the Northern Sagada Women’s Organization had been informally

forged to help in the promotion of homegardening in their nearby community. Flyers on

food preparation using IVs as ingredients were also prepared for distribution so that

people would have the needed awareness on the utilization of their indigenous

vegetable resources.

For a strong nation, we must have good governance that will promote the

nutrition needed for a well-educated, healthy and, thereby, productive workforce which

is the actually the gauge of development. In practice this involves empirical research,

public policy, promotion and applied action in support of multi- sectoral, community-

based strategies linking rural producers and urban consumers and subsistence and

market economies.

LITERATURE CITED

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BOLAYO, Y.D. 2006. Phytonutrient Analysis of the Shoots of Passion Fruit (Passiflora

edulis, Sims). M. S. Thesis Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet CHADHA M. and M. OLOUCH. 2007. Home-based vegetable gardens and other

strategies to overcome micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries. http:/www.avrdc.org

COTTON, C.N. 1996. Ethnobotany:Principles and Applications. New York. John Willey and Sons Inc. GUEVARA. A. et al. 1999. Transaction of National Academy of Science and

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GUTTERIDGE, H. 1999. Oxygen is a toxic gas-an introduction to oxygen toxicity and

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HIDAYAT, I. T., R. SUHERMAN, R. K. KUSMANA, R. G. NURHARTUTI, I.

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LIRIO, L. G. L.O. AYYOKAD AND J. N. PAING. 2006. Indigenous Semi-Temperate

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OKIGBO, B. N. 1990. Vegetable in Tropical Africa. Proceedings of Workshop in the

Vegetable Research and Development in SADCC Countries. Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. Arusha, Tanzania.

ORDOÑEZ, E. 2007. Nutrition and Governance. Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 26,

2007. B2. Col. 1-4. pp. SAUPE, S.G. 2006. Plants and Human Affairs. http://www.employees.csbsju.SSAUPE SHANMUGASUNDARAM, S. 2007. Past, Present and Future of Indigenous

Vegetabales. Abstract submitted during the First International Conference on Indigenous Vegetables and Legumes. Hyderabad, India. P.87

YANG, R. Y. J. WU, M. LIN, R. SHIAW, AND G. KUO . 2006. Variation among 120

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Philippines at Los Baños, College, Laguna.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Funding support from VLIR through STVRDC – PIUC - BSU

The rural folks, staff of the various offices of the municipal agriculture office

LGU’s and farmers for their cooperation during interviews.

Northern Sagada Women’s Organization

Documents

Lito Project-project 3 of project 6-BSU