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Review
. 2023 Apr 14:14:1105364.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1105364. eCollection 2023.

Nutritional, functional, and bioactive properties of african underutilized legumes

Jacob Olagbenro Popoola  1   2 , Omena B Ojuederie  3   4 , Oluwadurotimi Samuel Aworunse  2 , Aminat Adelekan  5 , Abiodun S Oyelakin  6 , Olusola Luke Oyesola  2 , Paul A Akinduti  2 , Samuel Olatunde Dahunsi  7   8 , Taofeek T Adegboyega  4   9 , Solomon U Oranusi  2 , Modupe S Ayilara  3   4 , Conrad A Omonhinmin  2
Affiliations
Review

Nutritional, functional, and bioactive properties of african underutilized legumes

Jacob Olagbenro Popoola et al. Front Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Globally, legumes are vital constituents of diet and perform critical roles in maintaining well-being owing to the dense nutritional contents and functional properties of their seeds. While much emphasis has been placed on the major grain legumes over the years, the neglected and underutilized legumes (NULs) are gaining significant recognition as probable crops to alleviate malnutrition and give a boost to food security in Africa. Consumption of these underutilized legumes has been associated with several health-promoting benefits and can be utilized as functional foods due to their rich dietary fibers, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), proteins/essential amino acids, micro-nutrients, and bioactive compounds. Despite the plethora of nutritional benefits, the underutilized legumes have not received much research attention compared to common mainstream grain legumes, thus hindering their adoption and utilization. Consequently, research efforts geared toward improvement, utilization, and incorporation into mainstream agriculture in Africa are more convincing than ever. This work reviews some selected NULs of Africa (Adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum), Mung bean, (Vigna radiata), Rice bean (Vigna Umbellata), and Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)), and their nutritional, and functional properties. Furthermore, we highlight the prospects and current challenges associated with the utilization of the NULs and discusses the strategies to facilitate their exploitation as not only sources of vital nutrients, but also their integration for the development of cheap and accessible functional foods.

Keywords: antioxidants; bioactive compounds; functional food products; sustainable development; under-exploited legumes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different tuber shapes and sizes of some underutilized legumes: (A) Zombi pea (Vigna vexillata), (B) Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), (C) African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), (D) Mexican yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus), (E) Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum), (F) Ahipa (Pachyrhizus aphipa).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Center of the diversity of some underutilized legumes in Africa Source: http://www.zipcodezoo.com/Plants/S/Sphenostylis%5Fstenocarpa/Default.asp (February 19, 2023).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Selected bioactive compounds in underutilized legumes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Extraction, characterization, and purification methods for legume seed bioactives.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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