Bambara

Bambara is a leguminous plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family native to West Africa. The nut is named after the Bambara people, who are one of the ethnic groups in the region where it is traditionally cultivated. The Bambara nut is a valuable and versatile crop that plays a crucial role in the diet and livelihoods of many communities in Africa. Its nutritional benefits and adaptability make it an attractive option for promoting sustainable agriculture in various regions around the world. Bambara nut is well-suited to grow in arid and semiarid regions due to its drought tolerance. This resilience makes it an essential crop for food security in areas with limited water resources.

Vigna subterranea (common names: Bambara groundnut, Bambara nut, Bambara bean manicongo Congo goober earth pea, ground-bean, or hog-peanut.

The plant originated in West Africa. As a food source of income, the Bambara groundnut is considered to be the third most important leguminous crop in those African countries where it is grown, after peanut and cowpea. The crop is mainly cultivated, sold, and processed by women, and is, thus, particularly valuable for female subsistence farmers.

Bambara groundnut represents the third most important grain legume in semi-arid Africa It is resistant to high temperatures and is suitable for marginal soils where other leguminous crops cannot be grown It is a low-impact cropThe entire plant is known for soil improvement[11] because of nitrogen fixation.

Nutrition Profile

Bambara nuts are highly nutritious and rich in protein, making them an essential food source in many African communities. They also contain carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6), and minerals (iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc).

Application

They can be boiled, roasted, or ground into flour to make a variety of dishes such as soups, stews, porridge, snacks, and sauces.

Certification

Pack Size

References

Okafor JNC, Jideani VA, Meyer M, Le Roes-Hill M. Bioactive components in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterraenea (L.) Verdc) as a potential source of nutraceutical ingredients. Heliyon. 2022 Feb 26;8(3):e09024. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09024. PMID: 35284682; PMCID: PMC8913303.

Tan XL, Azam-Ali S, Goh EV, Mustafa M, Chai HH, Ho WK, Mayes S, Mabhaudhi T, Azam-Ali S, Massawe F. Bambara Groundnut: An Underutilized Leguminous Crop for Global Food Security and Nutrition. Front Nutr. 2020 Dec 10;7:601496. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.601496. PMID: 33363196; PMCID: PMC7758284.

Mayes S, Ho WK, Chai HH, Gao X, Kundy AC, Mateva KI, Zahrulakmal M, Hahiree MKIM, Kendabie P, Licea LCS, Massawe F, Mabhaudhi T, Modi AT, Berchie JN, Amoah S, Faloye B, Abberton M, Olaniyi O, Azam-Ali SN. Bambara groundnut: an exemplar underutilised legume for resilience under climate change. Planta. 2019 Sep;250(3):803-820. doi: 10.1007/s00425-019-03191-6. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31267230.

Ajilogba CF, Olanrewaju OS, Babalola OO. Improving Bambara Groundnut Production: Insight Into the Role of Omics and Beneficial Bacteria. Front Plant Sci. 2022 Mar 2;13:836133. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.836133. PMID: 35310649; PMCID: PMC8929175.

Olanrewaju OS, Oyatomi O, Babalola OO, Abberton M. Breeding Potentials of Bambara Groundnut for Food and Nutrition Security in the Face of Climate Change. Front Plant Sci. 2022 Jan 5;12:798993. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.798993. PMID: 35069656; PMCID: PMC8768941.

Udeh EL, Nyila MA, Kanu SA. Nutraceutical and antimicrobial potentials of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean): A review. Heliyon. 2020 Oct 22;6(10):e05205. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05205. PMID: 33134573; PMCID: PMC7586076.

Murevanhema YY, Jideani VA. Potential of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) milk as a probiotic beverage-a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(9):954-67. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.574803. PMID: 23768187.

Adetokunboh AH, Obilana AO, Jideani VA. Physicochemical Characteristics of Bambara Groundnut Speciality Malts and Extract. Molecules. 2022 Jul 6;27(14):4332. doi: 10.3390/molecules27144332. PMID: 35889203; PMCID: PMC9323462.

Ngui SP, Nyobe CE, Bakwo Bassogog CB, Nchuaji Tang E, Minka SR, Mune Mune MA. Influence of pH and temperature on the physicochemical and functional properties of Bambara bean protein isolate. Heliyon. 2021 Aug 18;7(8):e07824. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07824. PMID: 34471709; PMCID: PMC8387769.

Adeleke OR, Adiamo OQ, Fawale OS. Nutritional, physicochemical, and functional properties of protein concentrate and isolate of newly-developed Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrenea L.) cultivars. Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Nov 24;6(1):229-242. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.552. PMID: 29387383; PMCID: PMC5778210.

Mashau ME, Mabodze T, Tshiakhatho OJ, Silungwe H, Ramashia SE. Evaluation of the Content of Polyphenols, Antioxidant Activity and Physicochemical Properties of Tortillas Added with Bambara Groundnut Flour. Molecules. 2020 Jul 3;25(13):3035. doi: 10.3390/molecules25133035. PMID: 32635138; PMCID: PMC7411947.

Adedayo BC, Anyasi TA, Taylor MJC, Rautenbauch F, Le Roes-Hill M, Jideani VA. Phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts of whole and dehulled Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) seeds. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 8;11(1):14116. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93525-w. PMID: 34239002; PMCID: PMC8266856.

Kudre TG, Benjakul S. Physicochemical and functional properties of beany flavour-free bambara groundnut protein isolate. J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Apr;94(6):1238-47. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6404. Epub 2013 Oct 28. PMID: 24105834.

Puozaa DK, Jaiswal SK, Dakora FD. African origin of Bradyrhizobium populations nodulating Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) in Ghanaian and South African soils. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 25;12(9):e0184943. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184943. PMID: 28945783; PMCID: PMC5612659.

Arise AK, Alashi AM, Nwachukwu ID, Ijabadeniyi OA, Aluko RE, Amonsou EO. Antioxidant activities of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) protein hydrolysates and their membrane ultrafiltration fractions. Food Funct. 2016 May 18;7(5):2431-7. doi: 10.1039/c6fo00057f. Epub 2016 May 9. PMID: 27156453

Diedericks CF, Jideani VA. Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Insoluble Dietary Fiber Isolated from Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.). J Food Sci. 2015 Sep;80(9):C1933-44. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.12981. Epub 2015 Aug 7. PMID: 26256094.

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