Cordia Dichotoma G. Forst as future food- A way towards Food Security and Sustainability

In the last few decades, the attention towards the ethnomedicinal plants has been significantly increased, these plants are underutilized and considered as the mines of various bioactive components. They are generally utilized by local communities for various purposes including culinary, medicinal, wood, animal fodder etc. They are highly nutritious in nature despite have the potential to grow under adverse climatic and soil conditions, these plants also help in achieving the food security by controlling the over-exploitation of the staple food crops. One among these underutilized plants include Cordia dichotoma G. Forst, belongs to Boraginaceae family, commonly known as Lasora in many parts of the India. It mainly grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions including northern parts of India. Cordia has been traditionally utilized as pickle, vegetable, natural gum, decoctions etc. Cordia species has been identified with various bioactive components including Lignans, Terpenoids, Saponins, Carotenoids, Quinones, Phenolics, Alkaloids, Coumarins, Steroids, Flavonoids, Fatty acids, Porphyrins and many Essential oils. Various pharmacological activities including analgesic, anti-helmentic, anti- inflammatory, diuretic, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial etc were reported in cordia. Despite all the functional attributes, it is still underutilized but has the potential to be considered as future food. Therefore, a systematic research is required to manifest cordia as a nutritional alternative in both food and non-food sector in order to promote food security and sustainability.