A Review on Phytochemistry and Phytopharmaclogy of Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp for the future Challenges and Perspective

B. Vanitha*¹, B. Durai Swamy², P. Dhamodaran³, G. Neelamma^1
1Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty-643001, Tamil Nadu, India
²Head of Department, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty–643001, Tamil Nadu, India
³Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty-643001犀利士
, Tamil Nadu, India

A B S T R A C T
Cajanus cajan (family: Fabaceae) more commonly known as pigeon pea, is a drought-resistant crop important for small scale farmers in semi-arid areas where rainfall is low. Pigeon pea contains high levels of protein and important B vitamins and is therefore especially important for people living on subsistence diets. In India, pigeon pea seeds come in a huge variety of flavours and colours, ranging from bitter to sweet and from black to creamy white. It contained several vitamins like thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, folate (B9), choline, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and amino acids like tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cystine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, valine, arginine, histidine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, minerals and several phytoconstituents like polyphenols, tannins, terpines, glycosides etc. Due to the present of diverse bioactive compounds, considerable progress of C. cajan had been achieved regarding its pharmacological activities and therapeutic 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: Fabaceae, Pigeon pea, Drought-resistant, Phytoconstituents, Pharmacological etc.