摘要：Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. (Winged bean), a lesser known nutritious leguminous plant is grown luxuriantly in Manipur State, North-east India. Almost all the plant parts; leaves, flowers, immature pods, matured seeds and tubers are edible. Winged bean plant parts viz., seeds (tender, matured and fully matured seed), pods case (tender, matured and fully matured pod case) and tubers were chemically analysed on dry weight basis. The concentration of crude protein , fat, and fibre, total sugar, reducing and non-reducing sugars, starch, total amino acid and minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Co) were analysed. The results indicated that the highest crude fat (1.7%) was present in mature seed and crude protein was present in fully mature seed (50.7%). The maximum amounts of total sugar (488.90 mg g-1), non-reducing sugar (415.95 mg g-1) and starch (420.60 mg g-1) were recorded in tuber. The plant was also found to have significant quantity of minerals. As regard to the mineral content, mature pod case showed the maximum amount of K (8.9 mg g-1), Ca (8.06 mg g-1) and Mg (5.72 mg g-1). Thus, among the stages taken for analysis, mature pod case contains the maximum amount of macro- and micro-elements. So P. tetragonolobus has got a great future prospect, if properly exploited may serve as a supplementary source of protein and minerals, as a subsidiary food material in Manipur.
