The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

Arhar is one of the major pulses grown and used in the form of split and dal. It forms an important part of vegetarian diet. It is a perennial erect shrub with many silky branches and pinkish white flowers in loose corymbose racemes, cultivated for its seeds as a pure or mixed crop throughout Bangladesh. It is also grown throughout the tropics. India has over 90 percent of the hectarage, and produces 90 percent of the world's supply. Other countries growing Arhar are Myanmar, Uganda, Kenya, Dominican Republic Panama, Puerto Rico and the West Indies. Arhar has been used as a fodder crop in some countries in South America, Africa and in Hawaii Islands. It is consumed in various ways commonly being cooked with vegetables and spices. Green pods are used as a vegetable. Raw seeds when consumed in large quantities have a soporific effect.

Botanical name of Arhar is Cajanus cajan (Linn). Although India is believed to be the native of Arhar, some doubt exists as to whether the genus was originally a native of Africa. Because, it has been found growing wild from the east coast of Africa (Zanzibar Tanzania) to the coast of Guinea. this wide distribution as well as its presence in ancient Egyptian tombs, dating back to 2200 B.C., point to an African origin of this genus as more plausible. The crop is highly adaptable to climatic variations, and grows both in dry and moist tropics. Under dry it tends to mature faster, while under humid conditions it develops a luxuriant vegetable growth and matures late. It is drought resistant and cannot tolerate water-logging. It grows in almost all kinds of soil such as black cotton soil, red, loamy, sandy or even clayey soils.

Arhar is grown mostly as a kharif crop, being sown at the commencement of the monsoon in June/July and harvested by February/March. Arhar grown in the rainy season has better cooking quality. In regions with a mild winter, it is grown as a rabi crop being sown in September-October and harvested in March-April. The crop requires very little manuring. When grown pure, Arhar crop is seldom weeded but when grown in mixture with other crops interculture befitting the principal crop is done. The crop makes slow growth until the major crop is harvested. It grows slowly during the first 45-60 days but becomes large bushy plants by flowering time. The quality of dal varies not only with the method of preparation but also according to the variety and the soil. Dal obtained from crops cultivated in black cotton soils, has been found to have better cooking quality because of the presence of considerable lime in the soil.

Analysis of the red gram dal gave: moisture, 13.4; mineral matter, 3.5; fibre, 1.5; Kcalorie, 335 (energy); protein, 22.3; fat, 1.7; and carbohydrates, 57.6 g.; calcium 73. iron, 5.8; thiamine, 0.45; riboflavin, 0.19; niacin, 2.9; tocopherol, 0.60-0.70; vitamin B 6, 0.54 mg. and carotene, 132 mg / 100g. Other mineral compositions are as follows: phosphorus, 304.0 (phytin p, 170); copper, 1.25; magnesium, 133.0; sodium, 28.5; potassium, 1104.0; sulphur, 177.0; and chlorine, 5.0 mg./100g. The dal also contains; manganese, 7.75; chromium, 0.11; zinc, 23.0; and molybdenum, 283 J.lg/ g. (Food Processes and Analysis, Mohammad Yunus, BARC, Dhaka, 46; Wealth of India, Raw Materials, vol. III, 35).

Medicinal Properties: The seed is acrid; astringent to the bowels, anthelmintic; restores loss taste; cures leprosy; "vata", and "kapha", ulcers of the mouth, tumours, bronchitis, vomiting, heart diseases, piles, cough, biliousness, "tridosha"; improves complexion; causes flatulence (Ayurveda). The seeds have a good taste; indigestible; cause constipation, griping, biliousness, diarrhoea and weakness; alexiteric; improve the liver; lessen expectoration. The leaves lessen inflammation; good in piles and for the teeth. (Yunani). the pulse and leaves are mixed and made into a paste which is warmed and then applied over the mammae to check the secretion of milk. A poultice made of the seeds will check swellings. The pulse in combination with other drugs is recommended for the treatment of snake-bite (Charaka).

In Madagascar, the plant is considered diuretic, astringent, strongly antidysenteric, detergent, laxative, and vulnarent. The buds are pectoral; the flowers bechic; the juice of the leaves laxative; the flour from the seeds resolvent; the lye detergent. In Guiana, the flour from the seeds is considered resolvent. The buds and the green pods are used in infusion as a pectoral. The boiled leaves are applied to wounds as a vulnerant; in decoction they are used as a detergent; the juice obtained by expression in the cold is used in haemorrhage. An infusion of the flowers is considered pectoral. The pulse is not an antidote to snake-venom. (Indian Medicinal Plants, K.R. Kirtikar & B.D. Basu, Vol. I, 809,810)

Medicine: The pulse is said to be easily digested and therefore suitable for invalids. It is regarded as hot and dry; it, however, produces costiveness. The leaves are used in diseases of the mouth.

Special Opinions: "Said to be heating, disagrees with some individuals, causing acidity and heartburn." (Assistant Surgeon Shib Chunder Bhuttacharji, Chanda, Central Provinces.) "The pulse and leaves are mixed and made into a paste, which is warmed and then applied over the mammae to check the secretion of milk." (Surgeon W. A Lee, Mangalore.). "The tender leaves are chewed in cases of aphthae and spongy gums." (Brigade Surgeon J.H. Thornton, B.A., M.B. Monghyr.) "A poultice made with its seeds will check swellings." (Ummegudien Native Doctor, Mettapollium, Madras.) (Dictionary of the Economic Products of India).

Medicinal values: Leaf juice is used in jaundice and diseases of the mouth. Tender leaves are chewed in cases of aphthae and spongy gums. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of tender leaves exhibit anti-hepatoxic activity in rats. Seed paste in the form of poultice is used in snake-bites and to reduce swellings.

Leaves and seeds are also useful in coughs, bronchitis, vomiting, piles and biliousness. Seeds are also claimed to cure leprosy, tumours and heart diseases. Extracts of the leaves possess antibacterial activity. Alcoholic extract of the seeds shows hypoglycemic and hypocholesteromic activities in rats. Extract in germinating seeds is virus inhibiting. (Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh, Second Edition, Abdul Ghani, 138).