Legume Seed Nutraceutical Research

"This series of meetings bring together experts working in this field of Science from throughout the world. A major feature of each conference session is an invited review, which outlines the advances that have been made in a particular area since the last meeting. A major factor that was considered at this meeting was the likely impact of plant genetic modification on the nutritional quality of their seeds for human and animal feeding. As an example already a number of legume species and rapeseed have been modified to improve the sulphur amino acid content of their seed and thus their protein quality. Besides the major grain legume species and rapeseed that had been discussed at previous meetings in this series number of crop products, as potential protein sources, for animal feeding, were considered for the first time. These included cottonseed meal, linseed meal, and sunflower seed meal. The potential of some new exotic crops from Mexico was also covered including Mexican species of the genus Lupinus and a Mexican plant from the same family as castor bean, which has a very high oil content but is usually toxic. Work from Cuba compared the nutritional characteristics of soybean with a range of tropical grain legume species, which have received little previous attention. A major change at this meeting was the greater consideration of the effects, both positive, and negative, of the consumption of these seeds for human nutrition. A major review on the development of allergnicity to legume seed in humans is included. There was also consideration of the potential role of antinutritional factors in reducing the growth of various types of tumour cells. The presented papers also suggest that the consumption of legume seed in the diet can potentially reduce serum cholesterol levels. Overall from the 5 conference sessions there are 52 papers. Of these 7 are major invited reviews on the current state of research in this important area for human and animal feeding."

Legumes have nutraceutical qualities that impart beneficial effects on human health. They are an alternative protein source with great potential for use in producing novel foods with improved nutritional properties. This book presents a comprehensive overview of legume proteins, including information on their nutritional and nutraceutical profiles, the health benefits of their compounds, and their underlying bioactivities such as anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

Legume crops provide a significant sources of plant-based proteins for humans. Grain legumes present outstanding nutritional and nutraceutical properties as sources of bioactive components with benefits in human health, while they are affordable food that contributes to achieving future food and feed security. Furthermore, they are major ingredients in the Mediterranean diet, playing a vital role in developing countries. Global food security requires a major re-focusing of plant sciences, crop improvement and production agronomy towards grain legumes (pulse crops) over coming decades, with intensive research to identify cultivars with improved grain characteristics, helping to develop novel legume-derived products (foods) adapted to today consumer preference. In this context, studies dealing with legume processing impact such as soaking, boiling, microwave cooking, germination, and fermentation among others, in their nutritional and anti-nutritional (i.e., food allergy) properties are of great interest in these future food developments. This Research Topic aims to bring together a collection of studies for a better understanding of current research in legume seed compounds functional properties to provide an updated and global vision of the importance of legumes in human health.

Legume crops provide a significant sources of plant-based proteins for humans. Grain legumes present outstanding nutritional and nutraceutical properties as sources of bioactive components with benefits in human health, while they are affordable food that contributes to achieving future food and feed security. Furthermore, they are major ingredients in the Mediterranean diet, playing a vital role in developing countries. Global food security requires a major re-focusing of plant sciences, crop improvement and production agronomy towards grain legumes (pulse crops) over coming decades, with intensive research to identify cultivars with improved grain characteristics, helping to develop novel legume-derived products (foods) adapted to today consumer preference. In this context, studies dealing with legume processing impact such as soaking, boiling, microwave cooking, germination, and fermentation among others, in their nutritional and anti-nutritional (i.e., food allergy) properties are of great interest in these future food developments. This Research Topic aims to bring together a collection of studies for a better understanding of current research in legume seed compounds functional properties to provide an updated and global vision of the importance of legumes in human health.

This publication is based on proceedings that focus on the relation of ANF's in legume seeds and animal nutrition. The nutritional aspects are discussed in relation to various animal species like pigs, poultry, rats, guinea pigs, fish and even apes. Also some aspects of human nutrition are included.

This publication is based on proceedings that focus on the relation of ANF's in legume seeds and animal nutrition. The nutritional aspects are discussed in relation to various animal species like pigs, poultry, rats, guinea pigs, fish and even apes. Also some aspects of human nutrition are included.

The attention and direction of food science has been shifting in recent years from food safety and food flavour research to functional foods and nutraceuticals -- foods that convey healthy and disease-prevention benefits to consumers that go way beyond their basic nutritional role. The purpose of this book is to bring together the latest information from fundamental and applied research on the role of seeds and their products as functional foods and nutraceuticals, and to discuss the benefits of consuming them. In this book you will find relevant information regarding the origin and taxonomy of seeds, global markets, physicochemical composition, and the effect of phytochemicals in seed components on chronic degenerative diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation and arthritis. Given the importance and challenges derived from environmental concern, with regard to the effective utilisation of the residues of industrial by-products and agroindustrial wastes, this book also discusses the inclusion of seeds and certain fruit by-products in foods, as well as the presence of phytochemicals with potential medicinal benefits.