Ethnomedicinal Uses of Thai Legumes ( Fabaceae ) and Their Potential in Industrial Applications

ABSTRACT

The Fabaceae legumes form part of the global food systems, traditional medicines and provide a good source of proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and a wide range of bioactive compounds. Glycine max , Vigna radiata , Cajanus cajan , Clitoria ternatea and Vigna unguiculata are examples of legumes that are important in nutrition, ethnomedicine and sustainable agriculture in Thailand. This review gives a general overview of the phytochemical composition, pharmaceutical benefits and industrial use of Thai legumes. These species contain phenolics, flavonoids, isoflavones, saponins and bioactive peptides which form the basis of their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anticancer and neuroprotective effects. In Thailand, traditional knowledge systems emphasize that they are used in the treatment of various ailments and therefore they are pharmacologically relevant. Thai legumes show great promise in the industrial environment, in addition to their medicinal value, in a variety of industries. They are used as primary ingredients in functional foods, plant‐based proteins and fermented foods in the food industry and have the advantage of using high processing technologies, including extrusion and solid‐state fermentation. In pharmaceuticals, their bioactive compounds are developed in nutraceutical and drugs development. Also, their use in cosmetic formulations and biodegradable biomaterials is an indication of increased interest in sustainable and natural products. Legumes also play a vital role in agriculture by fixing biological nitrogen in the soil making the soil fertile and environmentally friendly. These benefits notwithstanding, several challenges continue to constrain the field, including a shortage of clinical validation, marked phytochemical variability and limited scalability of processing. The review indicates that there is a need to combine research methods in order to harness all the medicinal and industrial potential of Thai legumes.