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Review

Comparative Analysis of Lespedeza Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the Fabaceae Family

by
Roxana-Delia Chitiala
1,
Ionut Iulian Lungu
1,*,
George-Alexandru Marin
1,
Andreea-Maria Mitran
1,
Ioana-Cezara Caba
1,
Andreea Lungu
2,
Silvia Robu
3,
Cornelia Mircea
1,
Alina Stefanache
1,
Monica Hancianu
1 and
Oana Cioanca
1,*
1
Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
2
Faculty of General Medicine, “Grigore. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
3
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dunarea de Jos University, 800010 Galati, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(9), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092013
Submission received: 25 March 2025 / Revised: 24 April 2025 / Accepted: 28 April 2025 / Published: 30 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Traditional Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

With around 40 species spread throughout temperate and subtropical environments, mostly in East Asia and North America, the genus Lespedeza (Fabaceae) includes a variety of species that have been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries. Particularly in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic applications, Lespedeza species show notable pharmacological promise, due in large part to their high polyphenolic content. With a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) IC50 of 20–25 µg/mL and a ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value of 819.5 µmol Fe2+/g, L. cuneata demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity among the three Lespedeza species. The rich polyphenolic profile includes quercetin, catechin, rutin, and special substances like lespeflorin B/C and lespecunioside A/B, which explain its efficacy. Its broad-spectrum action across DPPH, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and nitric oxide (NO) tests points to its importance for neuroprotective and anti-aging uses. Anti-inflammatory studies support its capacity to downregulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) via nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) suppression. L. bicolor has shown excellent promise, owing to its high total flavonoid content (109.2 mg QE/g) and presence of bioactives including kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and xanthoangelol, albeit displaying somewhat lower antioxidant capacity (FRAP: 912.3 µmol Fe2+/g). In macrophage models it showed clear anti-inflammatory action. Its capacity to prevent advanced glycation end products’ (AGEs) generation ties it to possible antidiabetic and antiaging effects. Although it showed the worst antioxidant profile (IC50: 40–60 µg/mL; FRAP: 743.2 µmol Fe2+/g), L. capitata nonetheless had useful components like quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and lespedecapitoside (syn. isoorientin). Though little researched, they have modest antioxidant, nephroprotective, and anti-inflammatory action.
Keywords: folk medicine; Lespedeza; legumes; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; polyphenol profile folk medicine; Lespedeza; legumes; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; polyphenol profile

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chitiala, R.-D.; Lungu, I.I.; Marin, G.-A.; Mitran, A.-M.; Caba, I.-C.; Lungu, A.; Robu, S.; Mircea, C.; Stefanache, A.; Hancianu, M.; et al. Comparative Analysis of Lespedeza Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the Fabaceae Family. Molecules 2025, 30, 2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092013

AMA Style

Chitiala R-D, Lungu II, Marin G-A, Mitran A-M, Caba I-C, Lungu A, Robu S, Mircea C, Stefanache A, Hancianu M, et al. Comparative Analysis of Lespedeza Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the Fabaceae Family. Molecules. 2025; 30(9):2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092013

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chitiala, Roxana-Delia, Ionut Iulian Lungu, George-Alexandru Marin, Andreea-Maria Mitran, Ioana-Cezara Caba, Andreea Lungu, Silvia Robu, Cornelia Mircea, Alina Stefanache, Monica Hancianu, and et al. 2025. "Comparative Analysis of Lespedeza Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the Fabaceae Family" Molecules 30, no. 9: 2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092013

APA Style

Chitiala, R.-D., Lungu, I. I., Marin, G.-A., Mitran, A.-M., Caba, I.-C., Lungu, A., Robu, S., Mircea, C., Stefanache, A., Hancianu, M., & Cioanca, O. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Lespedeza Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the Fabaceae Family. Molecules, 30(9), 2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092013

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