This review describes the non-nutritive biologically active components in grain legumes and discusses about the bioactivity of phenols, isoflavones, phytosterols, phytic acid, saponins, tannins, protease inhibitors and bioactive complex carbohydrates in different pulse grains. These bioactive components have wide ranging biological activities and conesquently many different targets and mechanism of action. The potential beneficial effect of these compounds especially their antioxidant properties and their role in the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes has been discussed.