Indigofera glandulosa is part of the Leguminosae family. This plant is found in various areas of the world such as India, Indonesia, and North Australia. Indigofera glandulosa can be found along roadside and open grassland areas, and it can also be found growing in dry regions as well, as it is a fairly drought resistant plant.[1] The seeds of Indigofera glandulosa are extremely rich in valuable food ingredients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and some essential amino acids. In India, the seeds are collected from wild populations and are used as famine food. The fruits of Indigofera glandulosa remain attached to the plant throughout its entire lifecycle and do not become shattered under normal conditions. The roots of Indigofera glandulosa produce nodules which fix atmospheric nitrogen; therefore, this plant can be used in the environment as a nitrogen enrichment agent, such as green manure, in areas that are surrounded with degraded soil.[2]
Indigofera glandulosa has a few distinctive taxonomic features. It is about 0.2-0.7 meters in height. The tap roots of the plant grow to be around 15 to 20 centimeters deep and are usually very well developed. On the surface of the roots there are usually globular nodules.[3] The seed coat of Indigofera glandulosa presents some deterrents when it comes to propagation and germination of the plant. The plant is naturally propagated by seeds, however a large variation in seed germination have been observed due to the impermeability of the seed coat. The impermeability of the seed coat acts as an evolutionary mechanism, as it allows the plant to remain dormant when exposed to high temperatures in the summer under field conditions. It has been observed that treating the seed coat of Indigofera glandulosa with H2SO4, for a ten to fifteen minute period, greatly improved the permeability of the seed which led to increased rate of seed germination.[4]
The seeds of Indigofera glandulosa have many key nutrients needed to sustain human life. The seeds contain nutrients such as protein (25-30%), soluble carbohydrates (46.7%), water (8.2%), albuminoids (31.9%), oil (2.2%), fibre (7.8%), key nutrients such as calcium (154 mg) and phosphorous (291 mg), and essential amino acids such as arginine (24.7%), glycine (7.12%), leucine (8.56%), and threonine (4.92%). The seeds also contain important minerals and vitamins such as vitamin B.[5]
Indigofera grandulosa, along with many other plant species, is underutilized and not used by many farmers due to the fact that it is not very competitive with other plant species in the same agricultural environment. However, Indigofera grandulosa, along with many other neglected species, present extremely nutritionally rich seeds and are adapted to low input agriculture.[5] Indigofera grandulosa could pose to be a promising crop in the future as the earth’s climate continues to rise and the degradation of land and water resources continues to lead scientists on the hunt for species of plants that are adapted to the increasingly difficult environments. Currently, research is underway in trying to utilize this species for human food and also as feed for domestic animals.[5]
- ^ Bhat, J (1973). "Ecological Significance of Seed Size to the Emergence and Dormancy Characteristics in Indigofera Glandulosa". Japanese Journal of Ecology.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Prabakaran, M (2011). "Antimicrobial activity of Indigofera glandulosa (wild)" (PDF). Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ Bakasso, S.; Lamien-Meda, A.; Lamien, C. E.; Kiendrebeogo, M.; Millogo, J.; Ouedraogo, A. G.; Nacoulma, O. G. (2008-06-01). "Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities of five Indigofera species (Fabaceae) from Burkina Faso". Pakistan journal of biological sciences: PJBS. 11 (11): 1429–1435. ISSN 1028-8880. PMID 18817242.
- ^ Morris, J. B.; Walker, J. T. (2002-12-01). "Non-Traditional Legumes as Potential Soil Amendments for Nematode Control". Journal of Nematology. 34 (4): 358–361. ISSN 0022-300X. PMC 2620579. PMID 19265956.
- ^ a b c Ghane, Savaliram Goga; Lokhande, Vinayak Haribhau; Ahire, Mahendra Laxman; Nikam, Tukaram Dayaram (2009-12-03). "Indigofera glandulosa Wendl. (Barbada) a potential source of nutritious food: underutilized and neglected legume in India". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 57 (1): 147–153. doi:10.1007/s10722-009-9496-1. ISSN 0925-9864.