Vicia faba
Broad bean
Vicia faba, commonly known as the broad bean or fava bean, is a versatile legume celebrated for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Rich in essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals, it has historically been used to support digestive health, boost energy levels, and provide vital nourishment in various traditional healing practices.
- Scientific name: Vicia faba
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Vicia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Vicia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Vicia faba, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Polish, it is known as Bober, while in Chinese, its names vary slightly by script and region: it is called 蚕豆 in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), 蚕豆 in Hong Kong Cantonese (zh-hk), and 蚕豆 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans and zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| szl | Bober | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 蚕豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 蠶豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 蠶豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 蚕豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 蚕豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 蠶豆 | Wikidata |
| pl | bób | Wikidata |
| eu | Baba | Wikidata |
| qu | Chaqullu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found throughout the areas of Czechia and Slovakia. Its reach extends into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the islands of the Baleares. Additionally, this medicinal plant is located in the regions of Corse and France.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Vicia faba, possesses several distinct morphological features that contribute to its botanical profile. The plant utilizes its roots to anchor itself firmly into the soil and absorb essential nutrients, with the delicate root tips serving as the primary site for active nutrient uptake and growth. The structural integrity of the organism is provided by its upright stems, which support the foliage and transport fluids throughout the system. Most notably, the plant produces nutrient-dense seeds, which are often utilized in various medicinal and nutritional contexts, whether consumed as a whole seed or processed for their specific bioactive properties.- Total parts
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 30
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| seeds | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root tips | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seedlings | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root-tip meristems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root-tip meristem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root-tip cells | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root tip meristem cells | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Vicia faba has 293 reported phytochemicals identified across 420 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include convicine, vicine, sucrose, K+, methionine.
- Total chemicals
- 293
- Scientific sources
- 420
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| convicine | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| vicine | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| sucrose | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| K+ | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| methionine | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| L-DOPA | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| lysine | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| starch | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| ABA | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ca2+ | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Activities
Vicia faba has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Free-Radical Scavenging.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Free-Radical Scavenging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mutagenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Vicia faba has 29 reported medicinal uses identified across 41 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include favism, Parkinson's disease, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer's disease.
- Total uses
- 29
- Scientific sources
- 41
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| favism | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colorectal cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Favism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fusarium infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |