K. J. Somaiya

Raw and roasted kulthi (Dolichos biflorus) seeds of drought prone area of Maharashtra were studied for their fatty acid composition using gas chromatographic analysis. Kulthi is under cultivation in remote areas of India. It is used as food and fodder. Legumes are in general good source of unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for health. Therefore study was performed for analysis and characterization of fatty acids of raw and roasted kulthi seeds and to obtain reliable data on their suitability for both human nutrition and pharmaceutical purposes. Test results indicate that raw and roasted seeds also contain higher amount of unsaturated fatty acids ie.72.49and 71.99%, respectively. Both the samples contain good percentage of linoleic acid i.e., 42.78 and 40.83%, respectively. Linoleic acid is useful for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.