The investigations of such nutritional and anti-nutritional factors enable us to know the nutritional and anti-nutritional values and to avoid consumption of highly toxic plants. It will also provide knowledge on the nutritional implication of feeding on staples of low nutritive quality, which will help to ensure better health condition of people in developing countries [3].Free selleck chemical radicals are highly unstable and undergo chemical reactions either to grab or donate electrons, thereby causing damage to proteins, cells, and DNA [6]. However, the presence of free radicals within the body can also have significant role in the development and progression of many disease processes like congestive heart failure, hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents, and diabetic complications [7].

Degradation due to oxidative reactions can affect all biomolecules, but mostly lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins [8]. Synthetic antioxidants like butylated hydroxyl anisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) have been restricted in foods, as they are suspected to be carcinogenic [9, 10]. So, the interest is highly focussed on searching plant based antioxidants because of their therapeutic performance and low toxicity. Antioxidants protect the integrity of cellular structures and macromolecules from damage due to free radicals. Carotenoids and phenolic compounds are dietary antioxidants [11].Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. ex Spach is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. It has its origin in Ethiopia.

It is known by several common names like ��teasel gourd, Arabian cucumber, hedgehog, pepino-diablito, concombre porc-epic, and so on.�� Usually, the leaves of Cucumis dipsaceus are consumed as a leafy vegetable [12]; its fruit juice is topically applied to prevent hair loss [13]. The cooked plant is also consumed in Kenya [14]. Hence, this is the first attempt to evaluate wild leafy vegetable C. dipsaceus for nutritional and antioxidant properties.2. Materials and Methods2.1. Collection of Plant MaterialsThe leaves were collected during the Cilengitide month of November 2011. The collected plant material was identified, and their authenticity was confirmed by comparing the voucher specimen at the Herbarium of Botanical Survey of India, Southern Circle Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Freshly collected plant material was cleaned to remove adhering dust and then dried under shade. The dried sample was powdered and used for further studies.2.2.