Nutraceutical Properties of Country Bean (Dolichos lablab L.) Land Races-an Underutilized Backyard Crop from North-East India

Legumes or legume constituents have been used as dietary source and play an important role in human diet besides their therapeutic potentials. Antioxidant compounds in the diet play an important role as they have ability to trap free radicals. The present study was conducted to investigate the nutraceutical properties (antioxidant property and nutritive values) of 18 land races of country bean from North-East India. Among the nutraceutical properties, carbohydrates, protein, lipid, crude fiber and total phenolic content were investigated along with antioxidant activities. The tender pods, which are used as vegetable, had moisture content in the range of 82.08 (LR-18) to 97.37% (LR-5). The crude proteins were found in the range of 16.47(LR-9) to 44.72% (LR-15). Total carbohydrates varied from 16.88 (LR-17) to 27.8% (LR-6). Lipid occurred in the lowest proportion, in the range of 0.23 to 0.76%. The range of variation for crude fiber was 13.55 (LR-15) to 19.29% (LR-16). The total mineral content (in the form of ash) was found in the range of 5.0 (LR-14, 18) to 9.0% (LR-7). The total phenolic content was observed higher in LR-14 (75.29 μg GAE/mg) and lowest in LR-11(14.64 μg GAE/mg). Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The IC₅₀ values of the methanolic extracts were found highest in LR-14 (0.93.3±0.82 μg/ml) and lowest in LR-11 (425.61±2.46 μg/ml). The study revealed that the consumption of these legumes would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity.