Legume-based functional foods in West Africa for managing non-communicable diseases: a comprehensive review of dietary strategies

This work is a comprehensive review of the role of legumes as functional foods in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in West Africa. Nutrition plays a critical role in NCDs onset, progression, and management. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes have beneficial effects in preventing and managing NCDs. Studies have associated optimal benefits in the reduction of NCDs with specific dosage intake of legumes. Researchers have reported anticancer activities of legumes such as faba beans, cowpea, Bambara groundnuts (BGNs), and chickpeas. Specific legume effects on NCDs include N-hexane extract from faba bean, which showed antiproliferative effects on human breast carcinoma and colon carcinoma. Cowpea has selective cytotoxic activity against various cancers attributed to its content of bioactive peptides and antioxidants. Peanut contains stilbene and resveratrol, which contribute to its anticancer properties; BGNs prevent COX-2 gene expression and exhibit antimutagenic activity; Mucuna pruriens, Vicia faba, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Glycine max are good sources of L-DOPA for the therapeutic treatment of Parkinson’s disease.