Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) as a climate-resilient legume with functional and nutraceutical potential

Abstract

Macrotyloma uniflorum (horse gram) is a neglected and climate-resilient leguminous food crop that has great potential to contribute toward global food and nutritional security, sustainability of food systems, and human health. The present review discusses the nutritional, bioactive components, antinutritional factors, processing technologies, techno-functional properties, nutraceutical potential, and climate resilience of M. uniflorum, with special reference to its novel application as a functional food. Horse gram is rich in protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and bioactive peptides, and possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial properties. Research on customary and novel processing methods has contributed to understanding its bioavailability and the effect of antinutritional factors in processed horse gram products. This review is unique in collating information relating to climate resilience, bioactive peptides, processing technologies, and the likelihood of precision nutrition and nutraceuticals in the future. Despite the abundance of data from in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical studies supporting the health benefits of horse gram, a limited number of human population-based studies have been published. Gaps in knowledge include bioavailability, mechanisms of action, gene–diet interactions, techno-functional properties, scalability, and industry regulation. Future studies will rely on multi-omics approaches, nutrigenomics, clinical testing, and scalable processing methods to establish horse gram as an evidence-based and commercially useful functional food resource.