Phaseolus vulgaris: Southern Italian varieties, properties and health benefits

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a rich source of compounds such as phytochemicals, fiber, lectins, oligosaccharides and bioactive peptides with beneficial health effects for frequent consumers. The beans are a key food component of the Mediterranean diet. A long tradition of cultivation in Italy has maintained many landraces adapted to restricted areas. In response to market demands, landraces have been progressively replaced by modern cultivars. Many landraces are at risk of extinction, and should therefore be safeguarded to promote the traditional varieties for their important nutraceutical potential, for instance by strengthening their market opportunities in the production of functional foods and nutraceuticals. A collection of twelve varieties from rural communities of the Campania and Basilicata Regions (Southern Italy) was evaluated and described in terms of their polyphenols contents and some biological activities. These cultivars may be subdivided into four bean groups based on their seed coat color: non-pigmented beans, red beans, speckled beans and dark beans, with each group including three cultivars. In this review, we provide an overview of the beans history in Southern Italy with emphasis on their nutraceutical aspects and diversity present in these common bean landraces. Their multidisciplinary characterization is an essential step to highlight the great diversity and positive feature of the common beanlandraces. This information is essential to plan conservation strategies and breeding programs.