Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Winged bean
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, commonly known as winged bean, is a versatile legume celebrated for its exceptional nutritional profile. Beyond its culinary uses, this plant holds significant medicinal potential. Rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, it is traditionally utilized in various cultures to support overall health and combat malnutrition effectively.
- Scientific name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Psophocarpus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Psophocarpus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Psophocarpus tetraoglonobus, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 四棱豆 (zh-hans), 四棱豆 (zh-hant), and 四棱豆 (zh-hk), while in Javanese, it is called Kecipir, and in French, it is known as Haricot ailé.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 四棱豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 四棱豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 四棱豆 | Wikidata |
| jv | Kecipir | Wikidata |
| fr | Haricot ailé | Wikidata |
| ru | Крылатые бобы | Wikidata |
| th | ถั่วพู | Wikidata |
| ms | Pokok Kacang Botor | Wikidata |
| ilo | pallang | Wikidata |
| de | Goabohne | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as the jack bean, exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is notably documented in Egypt. The species also spans much of West Tropical Africa, appearing in countries such as Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Furthermore, its range extends to Nigeria within the same tropical zone. Finally, the plant can also be found growing in Sierra Leone.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as winged bean, offers various nutritional and medicinal benefits through its diverse anatomy. The most distinctive feature is its large, green winged pod, which contains the edible contents and is often utilized in culinary applications. Beneath the soil, the plant develops fleshy tuberous roots that serve as energy storage organs. Additionally, the nutrient-dense seeds found within the pods are highly valued for their protein content and are frequently consumed as a vital source of sustenance.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| winged pod | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberous roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus has 77 reported phytochemicals identified across 87 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include oil, N-acetylgalactosamine, behenic acid, lysine, methyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside.
- Total chemicals
- 77
- Scientific sources
- 87
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oil | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| N-acetylgalactosamine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| behenic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lysine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phosphorus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trypsin inhibitor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trypsin inhibitors | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tryptophan | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antinociceptive, Antiproliferative, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Protein calorie malnutrition, colon cancer, hyperglycemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Protein calorie malnutrition | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type 2 diabetes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |