Kulattha
Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. (syn. Dolichos biflorus L.)
Kulattha (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. (syn. Dolichos biflorus L.)) is a plant drug, also called Khalva, Vardhipatraka and Kulathi, from the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs as a medicinal plant; widely recognized as a functional food legume; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia documents its medicinal properties.
| Botanical name | Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. (syn. Dolichos biflorus L.) |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) · other entries in this family |
| Order | Fabales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs as a medicinal plant; widely recognized as a functional food legume; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia documents its medicinal properties |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2976931 · NCBI Taxonomy 271171 |
| Sanskrit | Khalva, Vardhipatraka |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Kulathi, Kurathi |
| English | Horse gram |
| Tamil | Kaanam, Kollu |
| Malayalam | Mudiraa |
| Telugu | Ulavalu |
| Kannada | Huruli |
| Marathi | Kulitha |
| Bengali | Kalaya, Kulattha |
| Gujarati | Kalathi |
| Urdu | Kulthi |
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed). How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2018 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 2Other clinical studies and reviews
- 9Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Horse gram |
| Latin/Botanical | Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. (syn. Dolichos biflorus L.) |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid)
- Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin)
- Tannins (condensed tannins)
- Phytic acid
- Dietary fiber (high content)
- Proteins (22-25%)
- Iron and calcium (high mineral content)
- Phytosterols
- Saponins
- Antioxidant peptides
How does it work?
- Proposed antilithiatic (anti-kidney stone) mechanism (suggested by preclinical studies): inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal nucleation and growth, with diuretic action that may promote stone fragment passage
- Proposed antidiabetic action (suggested by preclinical studies) through alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition by polyphenols, combined with high fiber content slowing carbohydrate absorption
- Proposed cardioprotective mechanism (suggested by preclinical studies) that may involve reduction of oxidative LDL modification and improvement of lipid profiles through phytosterol and fiber-mediated cholesterol reduction
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Used in classical practice for Ashmari (renal calculi). In vitro and in vivo studies have reported anti-urolithiatic (kidney stone dissolving) activity.
- Traditionally used for Prameha. Enzyme inhibition studies and in vivo blood glucose studies have reported antidiabetic potential.
- Traditionally used for Shwasa (respiratory conditions). Preliminary studies have reported bronchodilatory and anti-asthmatic properties.
What do recent studies show?
- Oli P, Joshi K, Punetha S 2024. Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and nutraceutical potential of horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum): A systematic review. Journal of food science. PMID 39656760 · doi:10.1111/1750-3841.17594
Comprehensive systematic review documenting antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, and neuroprotective effects of horse gram bioactive compounds.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Widely consumed as a dietary legume across South and Southeast Asia with long-established culinary safety; contains anti-nutritional factors (phytic acid, tannins) that are significantly reduced by traditional cooking methods (soaking, boiling, sprouting)
- Excessive consumption may aggravate gout due to moderate purine content; Ayurvedic texts advise against use in Raktapitta (bleeding disorders) and Pitta-dominant conditions due to its heating nature
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Flavonoids
- Kaempferol
- Quercetin
- Myricetin
- Tannins
- Proteins
- Phytosterols
- Saponins
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Yusha (medicated soup), Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Kvatha concentrate
Standard Dosage: 20-40 g whole seeds for Yusha preparation; 5-10 g powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction; seed soup (200-300 mL) once daily
Optimal Timing: Yusha: at lunch (mid-day meal) for optimal digestion; decoction: traditionally taken in the morning on an empty stomach in Ashmari; powder: after meals
Storage: Whole seeds in airtight containers at 15-30°C, protected from moisture and insects. Powder in nitrogen-flushed packaging due to lipid oxidation. Cool, dry storage essential.
Marker Compounds: Gallic acid, Catechin, Epicatechin, Genistein, Daidzein, Phytic acid (to be minimized), Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol
Synergistic Combinations
- Yavakshara (potassium carbonate), classically combined in formulations for Ashmari
- Gokshura for comprehensive urinary health
- Varuna, traditionally paired in formulations for Ashmari
- Punarnava for kidney support
- Pashanbheda, traditionally paired in formulations for Ashmari
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
Other clinical studies and reviews2
- 2026. Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) as a climate-resilient legume with functional and nutraceutical potentialFrontiers in plant science. PMID 42630898 · doi:10.3389/fpls.2026.1891496
- 2023. Exploring the nutritional and health benefits of pulses from the Indian Himalayan region: A glimpse into the region's rich agricultural heritageFood chemistry. PMID 37150115 · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136259
Laboratory and animal studies9
- 2024. Assessing the yield and nutrient potential of horse gram mutants (Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam. Verdc.) an underutilized legume through a multi-environment-based experimentScientific reports. PMID 39009646 · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-67282-5
- 2022. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based chemical signature and nutritional discrimination of Macrotyloma uniflorum accessions from the alpine HimalayasJournal of the science of food and agriculture. PMID 34173242 · doi:10.1002/jsfa.11401
- 2022. Metabolite profiling and protein quantification to a large library of 96 horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) germplasmScientific reports. PMID 35552498 · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11962-7
- 2021. Macrotyloma uniflorum a plant food alleviates the metabolic syndrome through modulation of adipokines and PPARsJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 33368458 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.13595
- 2021. Morphological and biochemical responses of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. to allelopathic effects of Mikania micrantha Kunth extractsHeliyon. PMID 34458640 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07822
- 2020. Genome wide in-silico miRNA and target network prediction from stress responsive Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) accessionsScientific reports. PMID 33057204 · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73140-x
- 2020. Comprehensive nutritional profiling and activity directed identification of lead antioxidant, antilithiatic agent from Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) VerdcFood research international (Ottawa, Ont.). PMID 33233199 · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109600
- 2020. Curcuma longa and Trigonella foenum graecum-enriched nutrient mixture from germinated Macrotyloma uniflorum and Vigna radiate ameliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in ratsJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 32017151 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.13159
- 2018. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of fixed oil of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. in mice and ratsPakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 29618451
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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