AbstractBACKGROUNDDiverse plants species in the forest remain under‐utilised and they are mainly consumed only by local people. However, increasing issues in food security prompted the present study, which explores the nutritional and antioxidant aspects of Malaysian under‐utilised vegetables. The studied vegetables were Paku Nyai (Stenochlaena palustris), Cemperai (Champereia manillana), Maman Pasir (Cleome viscose), Dudung (Erechtites valerianifolia) and Semambuk (Ardisia pendula).RESULTSOverall, these vegetables exhibited a low proximal content but they were high in vitamin C [7.07–1263 mg kg−1 edible fresh sample (EFS)] and β‐carotene content (18.4–43.9 mg kg−1 kg−1 EFS). Cemperai had the highest calcium content (565 mg kg−1 EFS), whereas Semambuk had the highest total phenolic content [28.21 g gallic acid equivalents kg−1 edible dried sample (EDS)] and antioxidant activity (86.1%) measured using β‐carotene bleaching assay. Maman Pasir contained the highest total flavonoid content (39.99 g CE kg−1 EDS) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity (82.2%). The extracts of these vegetables had significantly prevented the oxidation of haemoglobin and low‐density lipoprotein, which yielded a reduced production of malondialdehyde.CONCLUSIONSemambuk and Maman Pasir are potent to be used as new food and functional food sources as they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry