PODS OF Prosopis cineraria (GHAF): A GIFT OF NATURE FOR NUTRACEUTICAL

Prosopis cineraria (Ghaf) is a highly valued trees in many arid and desert areas in the world with hard climatic adaptation and one of the life-line in desert habitat. In 2008, this tree has drawn attention for its various uses and it was declared as the national tree of the UAE not only for its sustainability through low water consumption and its ability to maintain desert ecosystems, but also it is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE's desert environment. Pods locally are considered as dry fruit in desert areas and are one of the main ingredients of prototypical. In the present research work, we strived to study nutritional contents available in the pods of ghaf, to understand its health benefits. Extracts of Pods were analysed for various nutrients like potassium, sulphate, Iron, copper, zinc, calcium, ammonia, nitrate. Extracts of pods of Ghaf are the highly bioactive and is a good source of nutrients including minerals. This study reveal that P. cineraria pods can be use as nutraceutical food with rich nutrition, disease prevention and health promoting effects. Its prominence on its broad food and non-food applications, nutritional values and health benefits.