A Comparative Survey of Leguminous Plants as Sources of the Isoflavones, Genistein and Daidzein: Implications for Human Nutrition and Health

TLDR

The study surveyed over 80 legume taxa to quantify their genistein and daidzein content. The survey found exceptionally high genistein (>2 g kg⁻¹) in Psoralea corylifolia leaves, most legumes had <400 mg kg⁻¹ except miso, and high daidzein (>1 g kg⁻¹) in fava bean stems and kudzu roots, indicating that lupine, fava bean, soybeans, kudzu, Psoralea, and miso are excellent dietary sources of these isoflavones.

Abstract

Over 80 taxa of mostly agriculturally important legumes were surveyed as sources of the metabolites, genistein and daidzein. Remarkably high concentrations (over 2 g · kg–1 dry weight) of the anticancer metabolite, genistein, were found in the leaves of Psoralea corylifolia (Indian bread root). All other legumes, with the exception of fermented soybean miso, had genistein levels <400 mg · kg–1 dry weight. Concentrations of over 1 g · kg–1 dry weight and 0.95 g · kg–1 dry weight of the anticancer metabolite, daidzein, were found in the stems of the fava bean (Vicia faba) and roots of kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata)' respectively. From this survey, our results indicate that the legumes, lupine (Lupinus spp. ), fava bean, (Vicia faha), soybeans (Glycine max), kudzu (Pueraria lobata), and psoralea (Psoralea corylifolia), are excellent food sources for both genistein and daidzein. Miso, a fermented soybean product, is also a rich source of both isoflavones.