Traditional wisdom of <i>Meitei</i> community regarding elimination of cyanogenic glycosides in bamboo shoot food products

Abstract

Bamboo shoot is a wild food resource which is used as traditional delicacy by the ethnic people residing in Manipur, since time immemorial. They are consumed fresh, fermented or pickled. The preparation method of these food products is a traditional art which is handed over from generation to generation. Bamboo shoots are low in calories, high in dietary fibers and rich in various nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, fat, sugar and inorganic salts, however, bamboo shoots are known to contain plant toxins (cyanogenic glycosides) which are harmful to human health. The paper documents the traditional methods used by the <em>meitei </em>community of Manipur for preparation of various bamboo shoot based food products and analysis of cyanide content in these food products.