Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.29, No.3, 2013 PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF PLANTS OF FAMILY ZYGOPHYLLACEAE AND EUPHORBIACEAE DURING WINTER

The aim of this study was to find out the nutritional value of some selected plants of family Zygophyllaceae and Euphorbiaceae which are traditionally used in different parts of Pakistan. The five plants Fagonia cretica L., Peganum harmala L., Tribulus terrestris L., Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) Raf. and Ricinus communis L., were collected from Peshawar and Attock Hills during winter, 2009. In the present study it was found that the mean values exhibited that Peganum harmala excelled in high moisture contents, fat, carbohydrate, protein than Fagonia cretica and Tribulus terrestris L. Peganum harmala might be considered a good nutritive plant followed by Fagonia cretica that contained the highest fibre. The T. terrestris also contained maximum protein and gross energy. The differences found in the proximate composition of these medicinal plants might be attributed to the habitat, environment and time of harvest. Chrozophora tinctoria and R. communis revealed variation in various analysed biochemicals. The mean values showed that C. tinctoria had high moisture, ash, fibre and carbohydrate than its counterpart R. communis. Ricinus communis had more protein, fats and gross energy than C. tinctoria. The cultivation of R. communis should be encouraged on large scale for the development of biodiesel that will help people. Its seeds can be helpful for pharmaceutical, insecticidal and food industries.