Nutritional, Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Properties of Some Popular Pulse Varieties of Bangladesh

In this study, we estimate the proximate compositions, phytochemicals (polyphenol, flavonoids, flavonol, tannin, protein, carbohydrate, reducing sugar, and β carotene), antioxidant activities, vitamins, minerals, and heavy metals of the four pulses (mung, anchor, chickpea, lentils) and compare among them to find out more nutritious pulse samples. Mung was found to contain the highest amount of polyphenol (98.02 ± 1.74 mg GAE/100 g) and tannin (447.98 ± 9.96 mg TE/100 g) and anchor (771.35 ± 3.76 mg CE/100 g) was rich in flavonoids as compared to other two pulse samples. Mung was also rich in ash, carbohydrate, vitamin B1, copper and anchor was rich in crude fiber, protein, reducing sugar, and vitamin B2 content. The highest amount of phytochemicals contained in mung and anchor corresponded to its highest antioxidant activity in analyzed antioxidant assays respectively. Other two pulses included in this study were found to contain good source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.