Nutritional value of some traditional edible plants used by tribal communities during emergency with reference to Central India

Traditional knowledge includes pre-existing, underlying traditional culture or folklore and literary and artistic works created by current generations of society which are based on or derived from preexisting traditional culture or folklore. Traditional culture and folklore tends to be trans-generational, old and collectively "owned" by groups or communities. Living close to nature the tribal communities have acquired immense information about the use of wild flora and fauna, which is not known to outer world. The folk selection was based on local needs, customs, preferences and habits 1 . This rich knowledge or system if subjected to scientific scrutiny could benefit the mankind in many ways. Traditional knowledge is gained from nature, in the laboratories of life and crystallized over millennia. This knowledge survives usually among the indigenous local communities. These are not always confined to rural or remote areas; many highly educated families living in urban areas and even in foreign lands also continue to follow many traditions. The strong basis of this knowledge has been the necessity, instinct, curiosity, strong observation, constant trail, long experience and close association with nature 2 . Although not tested and verified in the modern laboratory, these knowledge have stood the test of time and used by indigenous people for generations. This enormous body of ancient wisdom percolated down in oral fashion due to lack of any other suitable media which persists till date, although threatened 3 . Several tribal communities have their history which goes back to many centuries and still persists with their traditions. In fact the life, culture and traditions of these tribal communities have remained almost static for hundreds of years, in spite of number of floods, droughts and famines and other natural calamities. Still they manage to persist and flourish their culture despite of all adverse.