A REVIEW ON POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC ROLE OF CAJANUS CAJAN
Dr. Subha Bose Banerjee*
ABSTRACT
Cajanus cajan or Pigeon pea or arhar is the most important pulse having multiple therapeutic effects. 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. A number of studies have been carried out regarding the phytochemistry and medicinal applications of C. cajan. During the last few decades a large number of compounds have been isolated from C. cajan and some of them have got excellent biological activities. A new natural coumarin cajanuslactone has been isolated from the leaves of C. cajan which is a potential antibacterial agent against Gram-positive micro-organisms. The three stilbenes, cajanin, longistylin C and longistylin A from leaves have been found to possess hypocholesterolemic effects. Anti-plasmodial activities have also been confirmed in betulinic acid isolated from roots and longistylin A and C obtained from leaves. Pinostrobin, a substituted flavanone isolated from leaves possesses anti-inflammatory activity and inhibits sodium channel-activated depolarization of mouse brain synaptoneurosomes. Two isoflavanoids genistein and genistin isolated from the roots were found to possess antioxidant activity. Cajanol an isoflovanone found in the roots is found to possess anticancer activity. Four important compounds, pinostrobin, cajaninstilbene acid, vitexin and orientin isolated from ethanolic extracts of leaves were found to possess significant antioxidant properties. Isoflavanoids isolated from ethanolic extract of leaves also showed significant antimicrobial activities. Some protein fraction isolated from leaves also showed hepato-protective effects and the presence of phenolics (flavanoids and tannins) impart anthelmintic activity.
Keywords: Pigeon pea, Arhar, Hepatoprotective, Cajanus cajan, Anti-microbial.
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