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| Latin Names |
English Name |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Names |
Lens culinaris
Medic. / L.esculenta.
Moench /
Ervum lens Linn. |
Lentil |
Masura |
Masur, Masuri,
Masser |
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| History |
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Lentils have been valued
as an article of food from biblical times. It has been cultivated
in India from ancient times. It has also been medicinally used
in many European countries.
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| Habitat |
It is widely grown in Mediterranean
countries, Europe, N. Africa and in Middle East. It is grown
throughout North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and to a smaller extent in Punjab,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is not an important pulse
crop in South India.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is a small, erect,
softly pubescent herb. Leaflets are 4-6 pairs, sessile lanceolate
and mucronate. Racemes are 2-4 flowered. Calyx teeth are linear and
silky. Corolla is white, rose, red or violet. The Pod is smooth, compressed,
oblong or rhomboids, containing two smooth, compressed, lenticular
seeds, which vary in colour from pale pinkish buff to Prussian red.Lentils
show a wide range of variation in the colour of flowers and the type
of pods and seeds. The seeds may have various colours and three major
sizes. About 66 pure types have been isolated from seeds, which were
collected from different places of India.
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| Principal
Constituents |
Lentils are valued
for their high protein content (about 30%). The principal protein
is globulin.
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| Pharmacology |
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In general proteins
are nourishing and tonic. Also lentil is astringent.
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| Toxicology |
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There is no adverse effect reported
on usage of this plant.
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| Indications |
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It cures skin diseases. Seeds
are considered to be tonic and blood enriching.
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| Product
Range |
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Acne-n-Pimple Cream,
Anti-Wrinkle Cream.
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