Biological activities and medicinal properties of Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp

Abstract

Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp. (Sanskrit: Adhaki, Hindi: Arhar, English: Pigeon pea, Bengali: Tur) (family: Fabaceae) is the most important grain legume crop of rain-fed agriculture in semi-arid tropics. It is both a food crop and a cover/forage crop with high levels of proteins and important amino acids like methionine, lysine and tryptophan. During the last few decades extensive studies have been carried out regarding the chemistry of C. cajan and considerable progress has been achieved regarding its biological activities and medicinal applications. This review article gives an overview on the biological activities of the compounds isolated, pharmacological actions and clinical studies of C. cajan extracts apart from its general details.

Keywords: Arhar; Cajanus cajan; biological and medicinal properties; fabaceae; pigeon pea.

Figure 1

Leaves, fruits and flowers of C. cajan

Figure 2

Mature fruits of C. cajan

Figure 3

Structure of cajanin

Figure 4

Structure of pinostrobin

Figure 5

Structure of longistylin A

Figure 6

Structure of longistylin C

Figure 7

Structure of cajanuslactone

Figure 8

Structure of cajaninstilbene acid

Figure 9

Structure of vitexin

Figure 10

Structure of orientin

Figure 11

Structure of cajanol