Horse gram (
Macrotyloma uniflorum) or kulthi is one of the unexploited legume of the tropics and subtropics.
- It contain good amount of proteins.
- It has good macro (protein 22 g, carbohydrate 57 g, fibre 5.3 g) and micro nutrient (calcium 287 mg, phosphorus 311 mg, iron 7.6 mg, thiamine 218 mcg, riboflavin 192 mcg, sodium 46 mg, potassium 322 mg) content (per 100 g).
- It is considered as food with medicinal qualities in traditional Siddha medicine.
- It is prescribed for individuals suffering from jaundice or water retention and as a part of weight loss diet.
- Per 100 g horse gram contain 7.6 mg iron, hence, it is considered helpful for iron deficiencies.
- Traditionally it was used as medicine to treat calculus afflictions, corpulence, hiccups, worms and kidney stone.
- Seeds of horse gram are astringent to the bowels, diuretic, antipyretic, tonic, anthelmic emmenagogul, appetizing and lithontriptic. these are useful in piles, tumors, bronchitis, heart troubles, spleen enlargement and asthma.
- It can be used in leucorrhoea, menstrual disorders, flatulence, cough, eye disease and urinary disease.
Despite being healthy and nutritious, this gram has remained an underutilized food. One can enrich his/her diet with horse gram and take benefits of its health and nutritional properties.
