ARS | Publication request: Variability of Flavonoid Content in Different Legumes

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 26, 2006
Publication Date: November 12, 2006
Citation: Wang, M.L., Gillaspie Jr, A.G., Morris, J.B., Pittman, R.N., Davis, J., Pederson, G.A. 2006. Variability of flavonoid content in different legumes. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. 2006 International Annual Meetings, November 12-16, Indianapolis, IN. 2006 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Legume flavonoids have received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects on human health. Various results have been reported on soybean, but little research work has been conducted on other legumes. In this report, flavonoids in different legumes (including soybean, peanut, cowpea, mung bean and lablab) seeds with different see-coat colors were quantified by HPLC. On average, soybean seeds contained significantly higher amounts of daidzein (315-354 ug/g), genistein (438-458 ug/g) and kaempferol (38-68 ug/g) while cowpea seeds contained a significantly higher amount of quercetin (214 and 280 ug/g) than the other legumes. Within the same species, the difference in quantity of a specific flavonoid among accessions varied greatly. Daidzein was significantly correlated with genistein and kaempferol (r = 0.93248, r = 0.58246, P < 0.0001), respectively. Genistein was also significantly correlated with kaempferol (r = 0.72547, P < 0.0001). The variation in the flavonoid content detected and seed-coat color observed in this study would be useful for legume breeders and consumers.