Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Antioxidant Profiling of Dysphania ambrosioides Leaves from Different Locations of Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh,India

Abstract

Medicinal plants have gained considerable attention in recent years due to their therapeutic potential and nutritional benefits. In this study, the proximate composition, mineral content, phytochemical profile, and antioxidant activity of Dysphania ambrosioides leaves were analyzed from twelve locations across the Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. Considerable variation was observed in nutritional traits (moisture 26-37%, protein 23-31%, fat 3-7%, fibre 9-11%, carbohydrates 5-14%) and mineral concentrations (sodium 228-315 mg/100 g, calcium 913-1025 mg/100 g, potassium 983-1087 mg/100 g). Bioactive compounds also differed notably, including phenolics, tannins, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and vitamin C, alongside antioxidant activity. Collections such as Dehra, Harchkiyan, Jaswan, Palampur, Daroh, and Thural demonstrated superior nutritional and phytochemical attributes. This work represents the first comparative profiling of D. ambrosioides from different locations of Kangra Valley and underscores its potential as a nutritionally dense, antioxidant-rich species with promising applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and herbal formulations.