ABSTRACT
Lupine (Lupinus) is a cool-season legume, believed to originate in Egypt approximately 2,000 years ago, then spreading worldwide due to its beneficial effects. It is a nonstarch leguminous seed with high protein and relatively low oil content and is cultivated in various parts of the world for its nutritional value and adaptability to marginal soils and climates. It is used as green manure and forage and can fix atmospheric nitrogen for crop rotations with cereal and oil seed crops. Lupine is rich in dietary fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants, phytosterols, vitamins, and minerals. It contains lower levels of antinutrients, namely phytates, flatus-inducing raffinose series oligosaccharides, protease inhibitors, lectins, and saponins as compared to other legumes. Lupine proteins have good emulsifying power, binding and foaming properties, and are used for the development of animal-free protein foods or food products suitable for celiac patients. It can reduce transit time in human digestion and has beneficial effects on stool bulking. Lupine seeds are gaining importance as potential health promoters as they exhibit biological properties that include cholesterol and glucose lowering capacities and antiatherogenic, hypotensive, and hypoglycemic activities.
