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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Name |
Cicer arietinum
Linn. (Papilionaceae)
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Bengal Gram,
Chickpea |
Chanaka |
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| History |
 According
to a rough estimate, the cultivation of Cicer arietinum is 7,000 years
old and its diversity was found in Western Asia. In India, the earliest
records date from about 4,000 BC at Atranjikhera in Uttar Pradesh.
Carbonised seeds of chickpea that have been unearthed in various archaeological
sites throughout the Middle-East indicate the use of this legume already
in the Neolithic period together with the cereals wheat and barley
and the pulses pea and lentil. The species has also been introduced
into parts of America, Australia and Africa, but it has not achieved
much importance outside its original area of distribution.
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| Habitat |
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Extensively cultivated
throughout India, especially in north India. Not found in the wild
state anywhere..
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| Morphology Description (Habit) |
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It is an erect or
spreading much-branched annual herb, covered all over with glandular
hair. The leaves are pinnately compound, leaflets are opposite or
alternate, stipulate and strongly veined. The flowers are papilionaceous,
white to various shades of pink or blue. The pods are one or two seeded.
The seeds are attached to ventral suture, beaked, round or semi-round,
wrinkled or semi-wrinkled and exalbuminous. The seed coat is yellow,
faun, green, orange-brown, pink or black, smooth, puckered, granular
or tuberculate. There are two varieties cultivated in India, one is
a Macrosperma plant with big pods and the other is a Microsperma plant
with small pods (Both are genetically different).
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| Principal Constituents |
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  Carbohydrates
and starch are the major compounds in the seeds. Amino acids and minerals
are found in large amount. Also many anti-fungal and antibacterial
compounds like Daphnetin and Genistein were isolated from the seed.
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| Pharmacology |
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Daphnetin has antibacterial
activity on both gram-positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria.
Genistein has anti-fungal activity1.
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| Toxicology |
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It is edible and
no adverse effect is reported from this plant.
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| Indications |
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The seeds are stimulant
& tonic, used in skin diseases, and as nourishing hair and face
washes.
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| Product Range |
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Gentle Baby Shampoo, Protein
Conditioner, Protein
Shampoo for normal hair, Protein Shampoo for dry/damaged hair, Protein
Shampoo for oily/greasy hair, Revitalizing Hair Oil.
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| References |
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- Harborne, J.B., 1999, Phytochemical Dictionary, Taylor and Francis
Ltd., London.
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