CONSUMPTION OF ESHING EKAI THABI- AN AQUATIC VEGETABLE AMONG THE MEITEIS OF MANIPUR

SUPRIYA YENKOKPAM¹, Y. RANJANA DEVI²*
¹Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat Assam, 785013, India
²Central Agricultural University, Lamphelpat, Manipur,795004, India
* Corresponding Author : y_ranjana@yahoo.co.in

Received : 20-09-2018     Accepted : 26-09-2018     Published : 30-09-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 18       Pages : 7196 - 7198
Int J Agr Sci 10.18 (2018):7196-7198

Keywords : Meiteis, Water Mimosa, Ethnic food, Nutrition, Medicine
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Central Agricultural University, Lamphelpat, Manipur,795004, India. Authors also thankful to people from the study area for providing valuable information and extending cooperation
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Eshing Ekai Thabi, commonly known as water mimosa, is a pantropical nitrogen-fixing perennial legume usually considered as an aquatic weed in some countries, however, the plant is used as a vegetable by the Meiteis, the valley inhabitants of the state of Manipur, and is considered as a local delicacy. The present study was undertaken to document the traditional mode of eating and the nutritional and medicinal benefit of consumption of water mimosa by the Meiteis of Manipur. It was observed that in addition to various use of the plant as a local delicacy, it is used for treatment of against intestinal infections, dysentery, earache and also as vermifuge. The nutrient rich potential of the plant plays an important role against malnutrition in the weaker section of the society.

1. Yumnam J.Y. and Tripathi O.P. (2012) Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 11(1), 45-50.
2. Windler D.R. (1966) Australian Journal of Botany, 14, 379-420.
3. Gen M. and Eiji M.I. (1974) Southeast Asian Studies, 12 (3), 280-290.
4. Paisooksantivatana Y. (1993) Neptunia oleracea Loureiro - Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8, Vegetables, JS Siemonsma & K. Piluek (eds), 217-18, Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands.
5. Singh N.I. (2017) The Sangai Express, Eds. Sept 20.
6. Bhunia D. and Mondal A.K. (2012) International J. Life Science Biotechnology & Pharm. Res., 1 (2), 290-319.
7. Csurhes S. (2016) Invasive plant risk assessment- Water Mimosa (Neptunia oleracea); Dead and Awake (Neptunia plena), Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland government, State of Queensland, 1-13.
8. Ita E.O. (1994) Aquatic plants and wetland wildlife resources of Nigeria, CIFA Occasional Paper. No. 21, Rome, FAO, 52.
9. Singh V., Shah N.K.H. and Rana D.K. (2015) Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 3(3), 33-36.
10. Nadkarni K.M. (2005) Dr. K.M. Nadkarni’s Indian Meteria Medica; Repr. Vol 1, Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, 847.
11. Nakamura Y., Murakami A., Koshimuzu K. and Ohigashi H. (1996) Biosci. Biotech. Biochem, 60(6), 1028-1030.
12. Chanwitheesuk A., Teerawutgulrag A. and Rakaiyatham N. (2005) Food Chemistry, 92, 491-497.
13. Abulude F.O. (2005) Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 4(1), 835-840.
14. Prusty B.A.K., Azeez P.A. and Jagadeesh E.P. (2007) Bull. Environ Contam Toxicol, 78, 405-410.
15. Noorasmah S., Muta H.Z., Japar S.B. and Aziz A. (2015) Emir J Food Agric, 27(3), 266-274.
16. Suppadit T., Phoochinda W. and Bunsinchai P. (2005) J. Int. Soc. Southeast Asian Agri Sci, 11(2), 1-11.
17. Islam G.M., Akter S. and Haque Md. (2018) Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization,10.1007/s11694-018-9823-3.
18. Subha Rao, N.S., Mateos P.F., Baker D., Pankrazt H. et al., (1995) Planta, 196, 311-320.
19. Wahab A.S.A., Ismail S.N.S., Praveena S.M., Awang S. (2014) Iranian J Publ Health, 43 (3), 103-111.