Components of Nutraceutical Value in Physalis minima

It is of utmost importance to feed the current world population by improving agricultural production with newer varieties of food crops, but what is still more important is to add nutrition into the food. Some of the plants, which are currently growing in the wastelands, contain certain phytochemicals which add to their neutraceutical and health value. These plants contain secondary metabolites which enhance the over all metabolic functions of the body. Withasteroids are one of such phytochemicals. These chemicals are almost exclusively found in plants of the Solanaceae family; one of which, Physalis minima, contains several withasteroids. The aerial parts and roots of P. minima have been found to contain several steroids, identification of which is been discussed in this paper. These withasteroids contribute to the functional value since incorporation of withanolides in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumors in humans.