title: Grappling the high altitude for safe edible bamboo shoots with rich nutritional attributes and escaping cyanogenic toxicity.
abstract: Consumption of bamboo species with high level of total cyanogenic content (TCC) in Asia by many ethnic groups is significantly associated with food poisoning and occasionally Konzo (a neurological disorder). Adequate characterization of edible bamboo species with low level of TCC and high nutritious attributes is required for consumer's safety as well as for the conservation of the gene pool. Here, we employed morphological descriptors, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, RAPD, and trnL-F intergenic spacer to characterize 15 indigenous edible bamboo species of north-east India. The study indicates that morphologically and genetically evolved edible bamboo species having large and robust bamboo-shoot texture and growing at low altitude contain high level of TCC, low antioxidant properties, and low levels of beneficial macronutrients and micronutrients. Importantly, Dendrocalamus species are shown to be rich in TCC irrespective of the growing altitude while Bambusa species are found to have moderate level of TCC. The findings clearly demonstrated that Chimonobambusa callosa growing at high altitude represents safe edible bamboo species with nutritious attributes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Sayanika Devi
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Waikhom
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India ; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, BP 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Department of Biotechnology, Burdwan University, Golapbag More, West Bengal 713104, India.
authors.forename: Bengyella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Chandradev K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Botanical Survey of India, Botanic Garden, Howrah 711103, India.
authors.forename: Pushpa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Bharat G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Somkuwar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Mohendro W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur 795001, India.
authors.forename: Narayan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Talukdar
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D031723:Bambusa / Q000378:metabolism*; D005502:Food; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009570:Nitriles; C011206:cyanogen