hyacinth bean
Lablab purpureus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (450 studies) · ★★★★★
Hyacinth bean, scientifically known as Lablab purpureus, is a versatile, nitrogen-fixing legume valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Widely cultivated across tropical regions, it is traditionally used to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to inflammation, offering a sustainable source of protein and essential phytochemicals for holistic wellness.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native range
- Europe
- Parts used
- Fruit · Seed
- Common names
- Bonavist-Bean · Hyacinth-Bean · 2 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Dolichos Purpureus
Names
Common Names
- bonavist-bean
- hyacinth-bean
- lablab-bean
- Hyacinth Bean
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Dolichos lablab
- Zarandaja
- Judía de Egipto
- Dolico gigante
- Dólico gigante
- Poroto de Egipto
- Chaucha japonesa
- Dolichos purpureus
- Frijol de Egipto
- Vigna aristata
- Fríjol de Egipto
- Judia de Egipto
- Lablab niger
- Lablab lablab
- Lablab vulgaris
- Frijol jacinto
German:
- Helmbohne
- Hyazinthbohne
- Ägyptische Bohne
- Faselbohne
- Faselbohne
French:
- Lablab
- Pois Antaque
- Antaque
- Dolique d'Égypte
- dolique d'Égypte
- Pois de Senteur
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Lablab purpureusSynonyms
- Dolichos purpureus
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Fabales and falls under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Lablab.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lablab | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and regions. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in Italy and the island of Sicilia. Its range extends further into Eastern Europe, where it is documented in Ukraine. Moving toward North Africa, the species is also present in Tunisia. Finally, its distribution reaches the Macaronesia region, specifically within the Canary Islands.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Ukraine | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Lablab purpureus, offers medicinal potential through various components, most notably its white and dried mature fruit and its seeds. The dried pods are often utilized in traditional practices, while the seeds serve as a concentrated source of bioactive compounds. Together, these plant parts are valued for their specific therapeutic properties in different herbal applications.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lablab purpureus has 60 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, IRON, PHOSPHORUS, leucine, methionine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CALCIUM | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| IRON | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PHOSPHORUS | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leucine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methionine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| threonine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2'-Hydroxygenistein | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ARSENIC | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ash | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COPPER | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CALCIUM
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of food sciences and nutrition
IRON
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of food sciences and nutrition
PHOSPHORUS
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of food sciences and nutrition
leucine
- Dr. Duke
- Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
methionine
- Dr. Duke
- Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
threonine
- Dr. Duke
- Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2'-Hydroxygenistein
- Dr. Duke
ARSENIC
- Dr. Duke
Ash
- Dr. Duke
COPPER
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Lablab purpureus has 359 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiviral, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acidulant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adjuvant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lablab purpureus has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include amoebiasis, diarrhea, disease, dracunculiasis, lung cancers.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| amoebiasis | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| disease | Journal of dietary supplements (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dracunculiasis | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancers | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malnourishment | Journal of dietary supplements (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| metabolic diseases | Journal of the science of food and agriculture (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| crude methanolic extract of L. purpureus seeds | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hay | Tropical animal health and production (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf fractions | The British journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem fractions | The British journal of nutrition (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |