MACROTYLOMA UNIFLORUM: A LEGUME HAVING ANTI-LITHIATIC POTENTIAL OF UTTARAKHAND

Netrapal Sharma*, Satpal Singh Bisht, Sanjay Gupta, Ajay Kumar and Deepak Chandra Melkani

ABSTRACT

Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) frequently known as horse gram (HG) is a kind of legume of tropics and subtropics. Horse gram is a member of family Fabaceae. It is require normal annual temperature ranging from 18-27°C. HG is a short day and day neutral plant maturing 120-180 days after planting. Resources deprived farmers in insignificant, drought areas of India HG late in the rainy season. HG is one of the most important pulses growing in the dry regions of the Uttarakhand. Its medicinal uses are known to Ayurveda and Uttarakhand traditional physicians for centuries. Various medicinal preparations are mainly used as a tonic, astringent, diuretic and also recommended in rheumatism, neuralgia and other several diseases. Urolithiasis is a multifaceted process that occurs from series of quite a few physicochemical event including super saturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation and retention within the kidneys. Various plant species of M. uniflorum have been reported to posses’ antiurolithiatic property. HG seeds are rich in natural phenols; mostly phenolic acids, flavonoids and the major anti-oxidants. HG is considered as animal fodder and its full potential as a part of human diet has not been exploited completely. It can be consumed as seeds, as sprouts or as meal by itself. According to litratures HG is an excellent source of protein (22-24%). Seeds contain carbohydrates (57.2%), fat (1.1%), vitamins, minerals (3.2%) and good amount of soluble fibers. Extract of HG seeds shows potent anti-adipogenic, anti-hyperglycemic anti-hyper cholesterolemic activities. It acts against oxidative stress. It is concluded that HG can be used as a comprehensive treatment as well as a nutritious food.

Keywords: Horse gram; Macrotyloma uniflorum; Anti-lithiasis; Ayurveda.