The Chakma indigenous community in Bangladesh traditionally uses Allophylus villosus and Mycetia sinensis as wild food plants with therapeutic benefits against diabetes, pain, and other ailments. This study evaluates their nutritional properties, anti-nutritional factors, heavy metal content, and cytotoxicity to assess their potential as functional foods and pharmacological agents. Leaves of A. villosus and aerial parts of M. sinensis were shade-dried, powdered, and sequentially extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Macronutrient profiling revealed high protein (12.72717% ± 0.00010% in A. villosus), dietary fiber (37.19% ± 0.06% in M. sinensis), and safe levels of phytic and oxalic acids. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that toxic heavy metals were below detectable limits across all solvent extracts. Cytotoxicity was assessed using brine shrimp lethality bioassays, which categorized ethanol extracts as moderately toxic (LC50: 174.5-331.9 μg/mL), while n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions were non-toxic. Vero cell line assays demonstrated > 95% viability, indicating strong cytocompatibility. Statistical analyses included triplicate experiments, with results expressed as mean ± SD and significance evaluated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD post hoc test. Overall, A. villosus and M. sinensis may have potential as safe, nutrient-rich candidates for future functional food and ethno-pharmacological applications, pending further in vivo validation. Their sustainable use could contribute to improved dietary diversity, plant-based health solutions, and biodiversity preservation, aligning with broader goals of nutrition and ecological resilience.
Azam et al. (Sun,) studied this question.