Importance of Lupinus albescens in agricultural and food-related areas: A review.

The purpose of this review is to assist readers in understanding the importance of Lupinus albescens to nature, farmers, and scientists. L. albescens is mostly found in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and in "Campanha, Litoral and Missões" regions of State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Therefore, this review presents information and discussion on this plant that can encourage novel studies in a near future for exploring evermore the biological and physicochemical properties of L. albescens. The plant presents adaptive characteristics of soils with low content of nutrients, being an important plant for the recovering of degraded areas. In the last few years, there was an increase in scientific interest for exploring its chemical composition and biological activities. All plant matrices (i.e., roots, leaves, seeds, and stalks) are rich in antioxidant and antifungal compounds, especially stigmasterol. For example, the extracts obtained from the roots are reported with more than 50 wt% stigmasterol and 25 wt% ergosterol. Furthermore, the extracts present remarkable fungicide effects, especially against Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticillioides.