Saponins and Lectins of Indian Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) and Lentils (Lens culinaris)

Varying genotypes of chickpeas and lentils were evaluated for saponins and lectins. Chickpeas and lentils contain two types of sapogenols - sapogenol A and sapogenol B. Morphologically different genotypes of chickpea viz., BG 256, JG 74, KWR 108, DCP 92-3, KAK 2, JKG 1, BG 1053, L 550 and Sadabahar were differing in their sapogenol A and B contents. Sapogenol A in grain of chickpea genotypes varied in the range of 211.9±1.8 mg/100g to 352.2±1.2 mg/100g and sapogenol B from 413.5±0.5 to568.8±0.3 mg/100g. Total sapogenol of chickpea grain ranged between 651.0±0.1 mg/100g and 860.2±0.3mg/100g. Highest sapogenol B and total sapogenols were present in JKG 1and KAK2 genotypes of chickpeas. The lectins in chickpeas were present in the range of 1160±3.6 to1375 ±4.3 HU/g grain. Varying types of lentil genotypes viz., DPL 15, DPL 58, DPL 62, Pl 4, PL 406, PL 639, JL 1, VL 1, K 75 and Ranjan also differed in their sapogenols and lectins significantly. Sapogenol A and B inlentils were present in the range of 198.1±0.1 to 332.8±0.8 mg/100g and 361.0±0.3 to 452.9±0.5 mg/100 g, respectively whereas total sapogenol was found in the range of 569.6±0.1 to 700.5±0.5 mg/100 g grains. Lentils containalmost half of the lectins than chickpeas i.e. in the range of 513±1.5 to 617±1.5 HU/g.