Value addition scenario of arid foods of desert area and evaluation of their nutritional and phytochemical potential

Abstract

Desert area is gifted with valuable natural resources particularly arid fruits and vegetables. Arid fruits are used by native people as a prime source of food with some traditional value attached to it. Processing of traditionally important arid foods into more functional and convenient product can improve livelihood security of the people worldwide. Thus, value addition prospects have been studied and reported along with its nutritional composition, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities. The effect of various solvents on extraction procedure and their activities were also analyzed. The study demonstrated Kair and Kachri the arid fruits of Rajasthan to be rich in proteins and carbohydrates.