An Insight into the Prophylactic Effects of the Leguminosae Family Plants against Oxidative Stress-Induced Pathophysiological Conditions

Abstract

Legumes are the protein-rich plants belonging to the large family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae). Fabaceae ranks third, in the family of higher plants, with around 20,000 members and just after cereal crops, they rank second in agricultural importance. Recently, the dietary supplements isolated from the legume plants have gained much popularity due to their lower toxicities and numerous health benefits. Different studies suggest that this plant family has several beneficial activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and estrogenic effects. Along with these, legumes are also known to possess several other medicinal properties in various organs and act as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, anti-nociceptive, antiatherogenic, anti-nephritic, diuretic, digestive, laxative, sedative, chemo preventive, and as well as neuroprotective agents. Such therapeutic properties of legumes are due to the presence of different flavonoids, saponins, rotenoids, chalcones, glucosides, trypsin inhibitors, and alkaloids within them. Epidemiological data also suggests that legumes are effective in the treatment of several diseases such as diarrhea, kwashiorkor, bronchitis, rheumatic pain, and insomnia. This article encompasses important information about the current status and progresses made in legume-related research in the domain of natural products. It aims to overview different Leguminosae plants, their bioactive constituents, therapeutic effectivity, and hazardous health effects if any.

Nutritional Characterization of Prosopis laevigata Legume Tree (Mesquite) Seed Flour and the Effect of Extrusion Cooking on its Bioactive Components

“…Quercetin, myricetin, and luteolin glycosides have been found in pods flours of P. alba [ 13 ], Legume seeds have been described as an excellent source of flavonoids; soybean-daidzein and genistein; pea-quercetin, apigenin and kaempferol; common bean-quercetin and kaempferol [ 21 , 30 , 31 ]. Dietary flavonoids from legumes, including apigenin, have been related with healthy effects on human metabolism through modulation of oxidative stress, hormone function, energetic metabolism, gene expression, and epigenetic process [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Mesquite seed flour is a source of apigenin, an important active component with healthy implications for humans.…”