ABSTRACT
Black gram is an important legume crop that can be used as food and feed. The black gram seed and green pod are generally used in raw and cooked forms due to their good nutritional value. The black gram seed is a good source of bioactive components like nondigestible carbohydrates, carotenoids, tocopherol, tocotrienol, polyphenols, phytosterols, enzyme inhibitors, phytic acid, lectins, saponins, and nondigestible carbohydrates that play essential physiological as well as metabolic roles. Black gram contains polyphenols like gallic, protocatechuic, gentisic, vanillic, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol 3-rutinoside, kaempferol 7-rhamnoside, vitexin, and isovitexin varying in concentration amongst different fractions of the black gram. Black gram husk polyphenols have good anticancer activity by protecting DNA and erythrocytes from oxidative damage, whereas p-coumaric acid from black gram can reduce serum cholesterol levels. Therefore, the bioactive compounds from black grams can be used for its anticancer, diabetes management, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic effects as well as for inhibition of platelet aggregation, and possible protection against heart diseases and anti-inflammatory responses, both estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects, reducing obesity risk. This chapter reviews the different bioactive components present in black gram and their health benefits.
