Common and lesser-known pulses from Northwestern Himalaya: A comparison study for quality traits

Eight pulses comprising of five common pulses viz., rajma (kidney beans), cowpea (white), cowpea (black), lentil, chickpea and three lesser-known pulses viz., rice bean, horse gram, soybean (black) from Northwestern Himalaya were analyzed for nutritional factors viz. protein, lipid, sugars, tryptophan, starch, antinutritional factors viz., phytic acid, tannins, trypsin inhibitors), antioxidant metabolites and activities viz., Gallic acid, DPPH, ABTS, TAA, FRAP and fatty acid composition. Results showed that horse gram and lentil had higher free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. Studied pulse oil contained higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. PCA revealed that oleic acid, DPPH, ABTS, O/L ratio, antioxidant activities, gallic acid and tannins have positive correlation. Results of the present study showed that, studied lesser-known pulses were at par in nutritional quality with commonly grown pulses and these pulses may acts as a potential source of edible as well as good source of nutrition for livestock and human.