Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Underutilized Vegetables: A Tool to Address Nutritional Issues, Poverty Reduction and Food Security

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Global Perspectives on Underutilized Crops

Abstract

Due to different biotic and abiotic factors, agriculture is unable to produce enough quantity of food, fodder, feed, biofuel and industrial raw materials from available land resources. Currently food security depends upon a limited number of staple food crops, fruits and vegetables having different environmental, ecological, biological (insect, pests), nutritional and economic issues due to which handful amount of productivity of these crops is impossible, resulting in uncertainty in food security. Therefore, to fulfil the food demands of ever-growing population of the world, use of underutilized vegetables and other crops is the better option. The underutilized crops have better adaptation for adverse biotic and abiotic stresses. There are many underutilized vegetables available, which are the good source of protein, carbohydrates, micronutrients and vitamins. Additionally they are being used as medicinal plants and fodder of animals, and their vegetative portions are used as industrial raw materials; these valuable components are necessary to attain food security. Generally, vegetables have commercial value, so they are the good source of income for farmers owing small lands. As very limited research has been done on different aspects related to their adaptations, genetics, agronomy, economics, etc., the existing wild types and available varieties having wide adaptation and commercial potential could be recommended for cultivations. In this chapter, nutritional and medicinal values of underutilized vegetables and their role in poverty alleviation and food security are briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen T, Prosperi P, Cogill B, Flichman B (2014) Agricultural biodiversity, social–ecological systems and sustainable diets. Proc Nutr Soc 73:498–508

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appel LJ et al (1997) A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 336:1117–1124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appel LJ et al (2005) Effects of protein, monounsaturated fat, and carbohydrate intake on blood pressure and serum lipids: results of the OmniHeart randomized trial. JAMA 294:2455–2464

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arimboor R, Natarajan RB, Menon KR, Chandrasekhar LP, Moorkoth V (2015) Red pepper (Capsicum annuum) carotenoids as a source of natural food colors: analysis and stability-a review. J Food Sci Technol 52:1258–1271

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arora RK (1998) Genetic resources of native tropical fruits in Asia: diversity, distribution and IPGRI’s emphasis on their conservation and use. In: Arora RK, Ramanatha Rao V (eds) Tropical fruits in Asia: diversity, maintenance, conservation and use. Proc. IPGRIICAR-UTFANET regional training course on the conservation and use of germplasm of tropical fruits in Asia, Bangalore, India, 18–31 May 1997

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldermann S, Blagojevi L, Fredea K, Klopsch R, Neugart S, Neumann S, Ngwene B, Norkeweita J, Schroter D, Schroter A, Schweigert FJ, Wiesner M, Schreiner M (2016) Are neglected plants the food for the future? Crit Rev Plant Sci 35:106–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bazzano LA et al (2008) Intake of fruit, vegetables, and fruit juices and risk of diabetes in women. Diabetes Care 31:1311–1317

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brown L et al (1999) A prospective study of carotenoid intake and risk of cataract extraction in US men. Am J Clin Nutr 70:517–524

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruinsma J (2009) The resource outlook to 2050: by how much do land, water and crop yields need to increase by 2050? In: Proceedings of the technical meeting of experts on how to feed the world in 2050, Rome, Italy, 24–26 June 2009. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy, pp 1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Bvenura C, Afolayan AJ (2015) The role of wild vegetables in household food security in South Africa: A review. Food Res Int 76:1001–1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charles H, Godfray HCJ, Garnett T (2014) Food security and sustainable intensification. Philos Trans R Soc B 369:20120273. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chivenge P, Mabhaudhi T, Modi AT, Mafongoya P (2015) The potential role of neglected and underutilised crop species as future crops under water scarce conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 12:5685–5711

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cho E et al (2004) Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 122:883–892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christen WG et al (2008) Dietary carotenoids, vitamins C and E, and risk of cataract in women: a prospective study. Arch Ophthalmol 126:102–109

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Christiaensen LJ, Demery L (2007) Down to earth: agriculture and poverty in Africa. World Bank, Washington, DC

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Christiaensen LJ, Demery L, Kuhl J (2010) The (evolving) role of agriculture in poverty reduction: an empirical perspective. J Dev Econ 96:239–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier P, Dercon S (2014) African agriculture in 50 years: smallholders in a rapidly changing world? World Dev 63:92–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coşan DT, Saydam F, Özbayer C, Doğaner F, Soyocak A, Güneş HV, Değirmenci I, Kurt H, Üstüner MC, Bal C (2015) Impact of tannic acid on blood pressure, oxidative stress and urinary parameters in L-NNA-induced hypertensive rats. Cytotechnology 67(1):97–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daily Dawn (2007) Poverty alleviation through horticulture. Published in the daily Dawn, an English Newspaper, Pakistan, 05 Feb 2007

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S (2012) Vegetable production and productivity gains are key to increasing food and nutrition security in Asia. In: Proc. regional symposium on high value vegetables in south-east Asia Production, Supply and Demand (SEAVEG 2012). Chiang Mai, Thailand, 24–26 Jan, p 34

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert AW (2014) Potential of underutilized traditional vegetables and legume crops to contribute to food and nutritional security, income and more sustainable production systems. Sustainability 6:319–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] (2015) FAO Statistical Pocketbook, World Food and Agriculture. ISBN 978-92-5-108802-9., www.fao.org/publications

  • Giovannucci E et al (2007) Risk factors for prostate cancer incidence and progression in the health professionals follow-up study. Int J Cancer 121:1571–1578

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Godfray HCJ, Beddington JR, Crute IR, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir JF, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas SM, Toulmin C (2010) Food security: the challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science 327:812–818

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Lakshmia AJ, Manjunath MN, Prakasha J (2005) Analysis of nutrient and antinutrient content of underutilized green leafy vegetables. LWT 38:339–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gruda N (2005) “Impact of Environmental Factors on Product Quality of Greenhouse Vegetables for Fresh Consumption”. Crit Rev Plant Sci 24: 227–247. Taylor & Francis Group

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haines DD, Tosaki A, Lekli I (2017) Effects of momordicacharantia (bitter melon) on ischemic diabetic myocardium. Molecules 2017(22):488., 15 Pages. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22030488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He FJ, Nowson CA, MacGregor GA (2006) Fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke: meta-analysis of cohort studies. Lancet 367(9507):320–326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • He FJ et al (2007) Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Hum Hypertens 21:717–728

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hellin J, Lundy M, Meijer M (2009) Farmer organization, collective action and market access in Meso-America. Food Policy 34:16–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman R, Gerber M (2015) Food processing and the mediterranean diet. Nutrients 7:7925–7964

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes J’A, Ebert AW (2013) Research and development of underutilized plant species: the role of vegetables in assuring food and nutritional security. In: Massawe F, Mayes S, Alderson P (eds) Proceedings of the 2nd international symposium on underutilized plant species: crops for the future—beyond food security, vol 2. International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), Korbeek-Lo, Belgium, pp 79–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Hung HC et al (2004) Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of major chronic disease. J Natl Cancer Inst 96:1577–1584

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Indira P, Peter KV (2013) Relevance of nutrition garden in the context of nutritional security. In: Nath P (ed) The basics of Human civilization- Food, Agriculture and Humanity, Present scenario. Dr. P. N. Agri. Sci. Foundation (PNASF), Bangalore and New India Publishing Agency (NIPA), New Delhi, pp 521–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain SM, Gupta SD (2013) Biotechnology of neglected and underutilized crops. Springer, Berlin, Germany

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jayne TS, Chamberlin J, Muyanga M (2012) Emerging land issues in African agriculture: implications for food security and poverty reduction strategies, In: Stanford symposium series on global food policy and food security in the 21st century. Organized and published by Center on Food Security and the Environment, Zambia

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshipura KJ, Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Rimm EB, Speizer FE, Colditz G, Ascherio A, Rosner B, Spiegelman D, Willett WC (2001) The effect of fruit and vegetable intake on risk for coronary heart disease. Ann Intern Med 134:1106–1114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kahane R, Hodgkin T, Jaenicke H, Hoogendoorn C, Hermann M, Keatinge JDH, Hughes Jd’A, Padulosi S, Looney N (2013) Agrobiodiversity for food security, health and income. Agron Sustain Dev 33:671–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kavanaugh CJ, Trumbo PR, Ellwood KC (2007) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s evidence-based review for qualified health claims: tomatoes, lycopene, and cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 99:1074–1085

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keatinge JDH, Yang R-Y, Hughes Jd’A, Easdown WJ, Holmer R (2011) The importance of vegetables in ensuring both food and nutritional security in attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Food Sci 3:491–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause H, Lippe RS, Grote U (2016) Adoption and income effects of Public GAP Standards: evidence from the horticultural sector in Thailand. Horticulturae 2(4):18. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae2040018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lembo A, Camilleri M (2003) Chronic constipation. N Engl J Med 349:1360–1368

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lencsés E, Takács I, Takács-György K (2014) Farmers’ perception of precision farming technology among Hungarian farmers. Sustainability 6:8452–8465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonti M, Casu L (2013) Traditional medicines and globalization: current and future perspectives in ethnopharmacology. Front Pharmacol 4:92. Published online 2013 Jul 25. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2013.00092

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu RH (2003) Health benefits of fruits and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combination of phytochemicals. Am J Clin Nutr 78:517S–520S

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu RH (2004) Potential synergy of phytochemicals in cancer prevention: mechanism of action. J Nutr 134:3479S–3485S

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu RH, Finley J (2005) Potential cell culture models for antioxidant research. J Agric Food Chem 53:4311–4314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, ChandraN (2010) Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev 4:118–126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Łuczaj L, Končić MZ, Miličević T, Dolina K, Pandža M (2013) Wild vegetable mixes sold in the markets of Dalmatia (southern Croatia). J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 9:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mabhaudhi T, Chibarabada T, Modi A (2016). Water-food-nutrition-health nexus: linking water to improving food, nutrition and health in sub-saharan Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 13: 107–121

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mayes S, Massawe FJ, Alderson PG, Roberts JA, Azam-Ali SN, Hermann M (2012) Food security: the potential for underutilized crops to improve security of food production. J Exp Bot 63:1075–1079

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mhaiskar MN, Shende JJ, Rajurkar BM (2014) Ethnobotanical study of some rarely used vegetables. J Pharm Res Clin Pract 4:24–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Modak M, Dixit P, Londhe J, Ghaskadbi S, Devasagayam TPA (2007) Indian herbs and herbal drugs used for the treatment of diabetes. J Clin Biochem Nutr 40:163–173

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moeller SM et al (2004) Overall adherence to the dietary guidelines for Americans is associated with reduced prevalence of early age-related nuclear lens opacities in women. J Nutr 134:1812–1819

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mursu J et al (2014) Intake of fruit, berries, and vegetables and risk of type 2 diabetes in Finnish men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Am J Clin Nutr 99:328–333

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nandal U, Bhardwaj RL (2014) The role of underutilized fruits in nutritional and economic security of tribals: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 54(7):880–890

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Navadkar DS, Sale DL, Patil UD (2005) Marketing of vegetables grown around Pune city. Agric Situation India 63:259–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols M, Hilmi M (2009) Growing vegetables for home and market. Diversification booklet number 11. Published by FAO, www.fao.org/publications.

  • Nnamani CV, Oselebe HO, Agbatutu A (2009) Assessment of Nutritional Values of Three Underutilized Indigenous Leafy Vegetables of Ebonyi State, Nigeria Africa. J Biotechnol 8: 2321–2321

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochatt S, Jain SM (2007) Breeding of neglected and under-utilized crops, spices and herbs. Science Publishers Inc., Enfield, NH

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Oguntibeju OO, Truter EJ, Esterhuyse AJ (2013) The role of fruit and vegetable consumption in human health and disease prevention. In: Oguntibeju OO (ed) Diabetes mellitus: insights and perspectives. INTECH Publisher. https://doi.org/10.5772/50109

  • Pal D, Banerjee S, Ghosh AK (2012) Dietary-induced cancer prevention: an expanding research arena of emerging diet related to healthcare system. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 3:16–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey KB, Rizvi SI (2009) Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2:270–278

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey MM, Rastogi S, Rawat AKS (2013) Indian traditional ayurvedic system of medicine and nutritional supplementation. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med:12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/376327. Article ID 376327, Hindawi Publishing Corporation

  • Perez-Escamilla R, Segall-Correa AM (2008) Food insecurity measurement and indicators. Rev Nutr 21(Suppl):15s–26s

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rama OC (2016) Phytochemical screening of selected indigenous edible plants from the towns of Isabela, Philippines. Asian J Nat Appl Sci 5:36–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Satterthwaite D, McGranahan G, Tacoli C (2010) Urbanization and its implications for food and farming. Philos Trans R Soc B 365:2809–2820. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena M, Saxena J, Nema R, Singh D, Gupta A (2013) Phytochemistry of medicinal plants. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 1:168–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma JP (2009) Principles of vegetable breeding. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, pp 288–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheela K, Kamal GN, Vijaylaksmi D, Geeta MY, Roopa BP (2004) Proximate Analysis of Underutilized Green Leafy Vegetables in Southern Karmalaka. J Human Ecol 15: 227–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh HP (2012) Trend of horticultural research particularly vegetables in India and its regional prospects. In: Proc. regional symposium on high value vegetables in south-east Asia: Production, supply and demand (SEAVEG 2012), Chiang Mai, Thailand, 24–26 Jan, p 34

    Google Scholar 

  • Slavin JL, Lloyd B (2012) Health benefits of fruits and vegetables. Adv Nutr 3:506–516

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sotelo A, González-Osnaya L, Sánchez-Chinchillas A, Trejo A (2010) Role of oxate, phytate, tannins and cooking on iron bioavailability from foods commonly consumed in Mexico. Int J Food SciNutr 61:29–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stamp P, Messmer R, Walter A (2012) Competitive underutilized crops will depend on the state funding of breeding programmes: an opinion on the example of Europe. Plant Breed 131:461–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tadele Y (2015) Important anti-nutritional substances and inherent toxicants of feeds. Food Sci Qual Manag 36:40–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadele Z (2017) Raising crop productivity in Africa through intensification. Agronomy 2017(7):22., 30 Pages. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy7010022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Balzer C, Hill J, Befort BL (2011) Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:20,260–20,264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Duyn MA, Pivonka E (2000) Overview of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the dietetics professional. J Am Diet Assoc 99:1241–1248

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberger K, Lumpkin TA (2007) Diversification into horticulture and poverty reduction: a research agenda. World Dev 35:1464–1480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weitzberg E, Hezel M, Lundberg JO (2010) Nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway: implications for anesthesiology and intensive care. Anesthesiology 113:1460–1475

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiseman M (2008) The second World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for cancer research expert report. Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. Proc Nutr Soc 67:253–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YJ, Gan RY, Li S, Zhou Y, Li AN, Xu DP, Li HB (2015) Antioxidant phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Molecules 20:21138–21156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    M. Yasin Ashraf

  2. Pakistan Science Foundation, 1-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ashraf

  3. Department of Botany and Centre for Environmental Studies, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Munir Ozturk

Authors
  1. M. Yasin Ashraf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Ashraf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Munir Ozturk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Center for Environmental Studies, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Munir Ozturk

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Rehman Hakeem

  3. Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ashraf

  4. Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ashraf, M.Y., Ashraf, M., Ozturk, M. (2018). Underutilized Vegetables: A Tool to Address Nutritional Issues, Poverty Reduction and Food Security. In: Ozturk, M., Hakeem, K., Ashraf, M., Ahmad, M. (eds) Global Perspectives on Underutilized Crops. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77776-4_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation