Evaluation of non-nutritive bioactive compounds in chickpea genotypes from diverse geographical locations

Pulses contain a wide variety of non-nutritive bioactive compounds such as phenolics, phytic acid, tannins, protease inhibitors and saponins; and their benefits are often under-estimated. Screening of chickpea genotypes for bioactive compounds is rare and therefore, a study was conducted to assess nonnutritive bioactive compounds in 90 international and national (58 desi and 32 kabuli) chickpea genotypes from diverse geographical locations. The overall mean of phenolic compounds (total phenols and tannins) was higher in desi and kabuli genotypes from ICARDA, followed by desi national and kabuli international genotypes. However, overall mean of phytic acid and saponins was minimum in desi and kabuli ICARDA genotypes. Trypsin inhibitor was higher in desi genotypes of parents of mapping population and kabuli genotypes from ICARDA. The observed diversity in chickpea genotypes from diverse geographical locations could be used by plant breeders for developing cultivars with desirable content of bioactive substances meant for good health.