Cicer arietinum  (CANAKA)

Canaka is one among the commonly used pulses in ancient India.  Brhat trayi described it several times.Susruta quoted it as harimantha (S.S.Su.46/277).  Bhavamisra elaborated the effects of dried, fried, boiled and raw forms of Bengal gram.

Botanical description – An erect or spreading much-branched, annual herb, 305-61 cm high, all parts covered with glandualr hair; leaves pinnately compound; leaflets oval, small, toothed, rachis ending in a tendril; pods oblong, 1.9-2.5 cm long, 1-2 seeded.  Flowering during February-March and fruiting during April-June.  Cultivated throughout India as a pulse-crop.

Chemical constituents – Oxalin acid, malic acid, acetic acid, amino acids, vit. A, D, E; formononetin etc.

Part used –  seeds, leaves.

Uses – Seeds are know as nutritive, astringent, diuretic etc.