The Dietary Use of Pigeon Pea for Human and Animal Diets

Abstract

Pigeon pea (PP) [Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth] plays an important role in preserving poor smallholders’ major source of income in the tropics and subtropics by improving food and feed security, particularly protein intake. In the meantime, protein deficiency is frequent in tropical and subtropical regions due to rapidly increasing human populations and the high cost of animal-origin proteins. As a result, pulse crops should be their primary source of protein. Among these, PP is the most important pulse crop utilized as a food component in rain-fed agricultural conditions with the lowest costs, and it is the best source of protein supplements in typical cereal-based diets to fill the nutritional deficit. Despite this, it is the world’s least-used pulse crop. Therefore, the primary goal of this review was to provide and synthesize scientifically confirmed and up-to-date information on the dietary usage of pigeon pea for food and feed. Protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and essential amino acids are all present in reasonable amounts in both mature and immature PP seeds. PP has the most potential for usage as food and feed, and its nutrients are comparable to those of soybeans and maize. PP’s green leaves, roots, seeds, and pods are high in phenolic compounds, which have anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antidiabetic properties, as well as the ability to cure diseases like measles, smallpox, chicken pox, sickle cell anemia, fever, dysentery, hepatitis, and antimalarial medications for the body. Furthermore, the addition of pigeon pea and its by-products improves ruminant and nonruminant animal feeding performance significantly. In general, PP products such as dried grain, fresh (aerial portion), and green pods are used as a low-cost (low-cost) source of high-quality and quantity of protein food and feed for tropical and subtropical populations’ livelihoods.

Strategies to promote the dietary use of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) for human nutrition and health

“…As summarized in Table 1, pigeon pea is rich in carbohydrates (19.46–62.68 g/100 g), proteins (16.76–29.26 g/100 g), and fat (1.08–5.31 g/100 g), as well as crude fibers (1.20–8.63 g/100 g) (Adamu & Oyetunde, 2013; Ade‐Omowaye et al., 2015; Adenekan et al., 2018; Akubor, 2017; Amarteifio et al., 2002; Athanas, 2022; Choi et al., 2020; Rizvi et al., 2022). Moreover, pigeon pea is sufficient in essential amino acids, including leucine (0.2–0.6 g/100 g), lysine (0.3–1.5 g/100 g), valine (0.2–1.1 g/100 g), isoleucine (0.2–0.8 g/100 g), histidine (0.1–0.8 g/100 g), threonine (0.2–0.8 g/100 g), methionine (0.02–0.3 g/100 g), tryptophan (0.04–0.6 g/100 g), and phenylalanine (0.4–8.7 g/100 g) (Adenekan et al., 2018; Athanas, 2022; Kuraz Abebe, 2022). The high level of leucine and lysine makes pigeon pea especially suitable for people with obesity, diabetes mellitus (Pedroso et al., 2015), and people who need more calcium such as athletes (Chromiak & Antonio, 2002).…”

“…found that pigeon pea was surprisingly high in VC (569.2 mg/100 g) and β‐carotene (0.364 mg/100 g) contents amongst other 27 crops, which certainly contributed to the high antioxidant ability of pigeon pea (Ellong et al., 2015). For minerals, except phosphorus (127–367 mg/100 g) and potassium (552–1392 mg/100 g), pigeon pea is characterized by its richness in calcium (Ca; 16.3–200.9 mg/100 g) and magnesium (Mg; 68–183 mg/100 g) (Athanas, 2022; Kunyanga et al., 2013; Kuraz Abebe, 2022; Olalekan & Bosede, 2010; Rizvi et al., 2022).…”

Growth, nodulation, production, and physiology of leguminous plants in integrated production systems

“…The species is used in animal (Neres et al., 2012) and human (Miano et al., 2020) food and also as a strategy to maintain soil sustainability (Teodoro et al., 2018). Abebe (2022) highlighted the potential use of guandu bean for human and animal food due to its high protein content and low production cost. In general, the protein content in guandu bean grains is 20%–22% (Venkata et al., 2019) and 23%–33% in dry matter (leaves and tender portions of stems) (Neres et al., 2012).…”

Oscillatoria sp. as a Potent Anti-phytopathogenic Agent and Plant Immune Stimulator Against Root-Knot Nematode of Soybean cv. Giza 111

“…Soybean ( Glycine max L.) has been regarded as one of the most important summer legume crops for human and animal diets worldwide (Adami and Leskovšek, 2021 ; Abebe, 2022 ), having served as an important source of dietary protein and oil for the past 20 years (Akmalovna, 2022 ). In addition, its consumption has outpaced its production.…”