Linn.Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in most parts of India.
English: Bengal Gram, Chick pea.Ayurvedic: Chanaka, Chanakaa, Harimantha, Vajimantha, Jivan, Sakal-priya.Unani: Nakhud.Siddha/Tamil: Kadalai, Mookkuk- kadalai.Action: Antibilious, hypoc- holesteremic, antihyperlipidemic, antistress. Acid exudate from the plant—used in indigestion, diarrhoea, dysentery. Seed coat extract—diuretic, antifungal (externally). Dry leaf—refrigerant.
Supplementation of gram in wheat based diet helps in lysine absorption which is otherwise a limiting amino acid in cereal based diets. Germination improves mineral bioavailability. In germinated gram flour, there is significant increase in nutritional quality of protein and very significant increase in ascorbic acid.The seeds contain pangamic acid, the stemina building, antistress and antihyperlipidemic principle of gram. Gram is given as preventive diet to atherosclerosis patients because of its rich phosphorus content.Isoflavones, biochanin A and for- monetin exhibited hypolipidermic activity in rats. Total flavonoids reduced serum and liver cholesterol in rats.Seeds reduced postprandial plasma glucose in human.
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