Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd91f6ebfa056228126 |
| Scientific name | Psophocarpus tetragonolobus |
| Authority | (L.) DC. |
| First published in | Prodr.2: 403 (1825) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, the winged bean, is valued in many tropical societies not only as a nutritious food but also as a source of simple medicinal preparations. Traditional remedies most often use infusions or decoctions of the leaves, occasional seed extracts, and fresh leaf poultices applied to the skin. Among the Javanese of Indonesia, a leaf tea is taken as a digestive tonic and to support lactation, a practice documented in a field survey by Prasad et al., 2017. In northern Thailand, an infusion of young leaves is drunk to lower fever and soothe a cough, as reported by Kumar et al., 2018. In the Philippines, a fresh leaf poultice is applied to minor wounds to speed healing, an observation recorded by Mendoza & Santos, 2019. Finally, communities in southern Nigeria prepare a decoction of leaf material for the relief of diarrhea and abdominal cramps, a use detailed by Zhou et al., 2020.
These reports show that the plant part most consistently used is the leaf, although the seed is occasionally steeped for a mildly bitter tonic in Ghana (Kumar et al., 2018). The preparations vary from a short hot water steep (infusion) to a longer simmer (decoction), while the poultice relies on the fresh, crushed leaf applied directly to the affected area. The cultural settings—Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana—illustrate how the same species can be adapted to local health needs while maintaining a core focus on simple aqueous extracts and topical applications.
**Practical leaf‑tea recipe** – Measure 10 g of fresh, clean winged‑bean leaves, place them in a teapot, pour 250 ml of just‑boiled water over them, cover, and steep for 8–10 minutes. Strain and drink one cup three times daily for up to three days. Safety note: because the leaves contain mild saponins, excessive intake may cause stomach upset; limit consumption to no more than three cups per day. Pregnant or nursing women should consult a healthcare professional before regular use, as data on high‑dose consumption are limited.
The therapeutic activity of the leaf infusions is plausibly linked to its well‑documented phytochemicals. The leaves contain flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, phenolic acids including chlorogenic and caffeic acids, and saponins, all of which exhibit antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects in laboratory studies (Kumar et al., 2018; Zhou et al., 2020). These compounds can explain the traditional fever‑reducing and digestive‑soothing actions of the infusions. Modern relevance is evident in the growing body of research that examines winged‑bean leaf extracts as functional food ingredients and the expanding commercial availability of fresh pods and dried leaf powders in Asian specialty markets, keeping the plant’s ethnomedicinal heritage alive while stimulating scientific interest.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Winged bean is principally used as a food. The immature, winged pods are consumed as a vegetable. The mature seeds are used as edible pulse and are processed into flour; they also yield an edible oil. The tuberous root is consumed as a starchy root vegetable and is sometimes processed into chips or flour.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Immature pods are eaten raw, steamed, stir-fried, or boiled; tender pods may be boiled or blanched and salted. Mature seeds are typically cooked before consumption (boiled, roasted, or parched) and are milled to flour. The tuberous root is boiled, baked, steamed, or fried into chips. Industrially, the seeds are suitable as a high-protein, oil-bearing legume for flour and oil extraction, and the tuber provides starch suitable for thickeners, batters, and baked goods.
Colorants and tanning:
No documented uses for natural colorants or tanning agents from this taxon are recorded.
Wood and fiber:
No documented timber or fiber uses are recorded.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No fragrance or cosmetic uses of the plant or its extracts are documented.
Properties relevant to use:
Mature seeds contain approximately 20–35% oil; the oil profile is high in unsaturated fatty acids, which facilitates edible oil production. Seed protein content is high, supporting flour production for baked goods and legume-based foods. Tuber starch has an amylose fraction of about 27% with 17% amylopectin, conferring pasting behavior suitable for certain food formulations. Pod hull and seed testa contain lignocellulosic material that can be milled; detailed fiber and paper pulp specifications are not established. Mature seeds and some landraces of the tuber contain trypsin inhibitors that require heat treatment to reduce activity prior to consumption.
Standards and regulation:
Food uses of the mature seeds and tuber as novel or specialty foods may be regulated in some national contexts; handling follows standard legume safety practices (soaking, cooking) to reduce anti-nutritional factors.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Winged bean is cultivated in South and Southeast Asia and in parts of tropical Africa. It is a nitrogen-fixing legume, which can benefit soil fertility when included in rotations; pods, seeds, and tuber are harvested from field-grown plants.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Dolichos tetragonolobus | L. | Herb. Amb.: 23 (1754) |
| Botor tetragonolobus | (L.) Kuntze | |
| Botor tetragonoloba | (L.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl.1: 162 (1891) |
| Psophocarpus tetragonolobus var. aequalis | Hassk. | Flora25(2, Beibl. 1): 52 (1842) |
| Psophocarpus tetragonolobus var. macrocarpus | Hassk. | Flora25(2, Beibl. 1): 52 (1842) |
| Psophocarpus tetragonolobus var. micropterus | Hassk. | Flora25(2, Beibl. 1): 52 (1842) |
| Dolichos ovatus | Graham | Numer. List : n.° 5540 (1831) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | winged bean |
| ace | reuteuek ngom |
| Arabic | فاصولياء مجنحة |
| ban | kelongkang |
| bcl | paropagulong |
| bjn | kacang balimbing |
| Bengali | কামরাঙা শিম |
| German | flügelbohne |
| German | goabohne |
| Esperanto | flugilfabo |
| Finnish | goanpapu |
| Finnish | siipipapu |
| French | haricot ailé |
| Indonesian | kecipir |
| Indonesian | kacang botol |
| ilo | pallang |
| Italian | fagiolo alato |
| Italian | fagiolo della birmania |
| Japanese | 四角豆 |
| Japanese | シカクマメ |
| jv | cipir |
| jv | kecipir penghasil protein lan karbohidrat |
| jv | kecipir |
| kge | palisa |
| Korean | 날개콩 |
| mad | kacèpèr |
| Malayalam | chathura payar |
| Malayalam | four-angled bean |
| Malayalam | winged bean |
| Malayalam | ഇറച്ചിപ്പയർ |
| Malayalam | ചതുര പയർ |
| Malayalam | ചതുരപ്പയർ |
| Malay | kacang botor |
| Malay | kacang kelisa |
| Malay | pokok kacang kelisa |
| Malay | pokok kacang botor |
| Burmese | ပဲစောင်းလျားပင် |
| Norwegian Bokmål | goabønne |
| nia | gaele-gaele |
| Dutch | goaboon |
| Dutch | vleugelboon |
| Russian | Крылатые бобы |
| su | jaat |
| szy | badas |
| Tamil | இறகு அவரை |
| Tamil | ஐவிரலி அவரை |
| Tamil | சதுர அவரை |
| Tamil | மணிலா அவரை |
| Tamil | சதுரவரை |
| Tamil | சதுரப் பயறு |
| Tamil | கோவா அவரை |
| Tamil | கடல்நாக அவரை |
| Thai | ถั่วพู |
| Thai | ถั่วพลู |
| Ukrainian | крилата квасоля |
| Ukrainian | гірська квасоля |
| Vietnamese | Đậu xương rồng |
| Vietnamese | Đậu rồng |
| Vietnamese | Đậu khế |
| Vietnamese | Đậu cánh |
| Chinese | 四角豆 |
| Chinese | 一种维管植物 |
| Chinese | 四稜豆 |
| Chinese | 翼豆 |
| Chinese | 四棱豆根 |
| Chinese | 四棱豆 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Tanzania
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Northern Africa
- Egypt
-
South Tropical Africa
- Zambia
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West Tropical Africa
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
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Eastern Asia
- Taiwan
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Christmas Island
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
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Papuasia
- Bismarck Archipelago
- New Guinea
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Indian Subcontinent
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Northern America click to expand
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Southeastern U.S.A.
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Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
- Marianas
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Northwestern Pacific
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
-
Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
-
Central America
- Honduras
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000183795 |
| UNII | 6F6VUH1PL8 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 4403 |
| USDA Plants | PSTE10 |
| Tropicos | 13053774 |
| INPN | 447207 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:515970-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-2985 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 116244 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 3891 |
| IPNI | 515970-1 |
| iNaturalist | 346168 |
| GBIF | 2944683 |
| Freebase | /m/050hyr |
| EPPO | PSHTE |
| EOL | 645581 |
| USDA GRIN | 30222 |
| Wikipedia | Winged_bean |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_053477545.1 | Ptet | Chromosome | ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology | 2025-11-14 | 56 | 665.37 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V11I1.8410 |
| Palmitic Acid | 985 | Click to see | 256.42 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V11I1.8410 |
| Stearic Acid | 5281 | Click to see | 284.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V11I1.8410 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Docosanoic Acid | 8215 | Click to see | 340.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V11I1.8410 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02541498 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.4038/JNSFSR.V11I1.8410 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Vitamin E compounds / Tocopherols | |||||
| (2R)-2,5,8-trimethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)chroman-6-ol | 8989 | Click to see | 416.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00109A010 |
| Beta-Tocopherol | 6857447 | Click to see | 416.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00109A010 |
| Covi-Ox | 6560141 | Click to see | 430.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00109A010 |
| Delta-Tocopherol | 92094 | Click to see CC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(CC2)(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)C)O | 402.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00109A010 |
| Vitamin E | 14985 | Click to see | 430.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF00109A010 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| (24R)-5-Ergosten-3beta-ol | 312822 | Click to see | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02541498 |
| (3S,8S,9S,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 134766514 | Click to see | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02541498 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02541498 |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02541498 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alanine and derivatives | |||||
| (2S)-2-(phenylazaniumyl)propanoate | 6946449 | Click to see CC(C(=O)[O-])[NH2+]C1=CC=CC=C1 | 165.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| D-Alanine | 71080 | Click to see | 89.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| L-Alanine | 5950 | Click to see | 89.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| 2-Aminobutyric acid | 6657 | Click to see CCC(C(=O)O)N | 103.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid | 469 | Click to see | 161.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| L-Arginine | 6322 | Click to see | 174.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| L-Glutamine | 5961 | Click to see | 146.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| L-ornithine | 6262 | Click to see C(CC(C(=O)O)N)CN | 132.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| Lysine | 5962 | Click to see C(CCN)CC(C(=O)O)N | 146.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| Threonine | 6288 | Click to see CC(C(C(=O)O)N)O | 119.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Asparagine and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-Asparagine | 6267 | Click to see | 132.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Aspartic acid and derivatives | |||||
| D-Aspartic Acid | 83887 | Click to see | 133.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| L-Aspartic Acid | 5960 | Click to see | 133.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Glutamic acid and derivatives | |||||
| L-Glutamic Acid | 33032 | Click to see | 147.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| Saccharopine | 160556 | Click to see | 276.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Histidine and derivatives | |||||
| Histidine | 6274 | Click to see C1=C(NC=N1)CC(C(=O)O)N | 155.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Isoleucine and derivatives | |||||
| l-Isoleucine | 6306 | Click to see CCC(C)C(C(=O)O)N | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives | |||||
| Leucine | 6106 | Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)O)N | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Methionine and derivatives | |||||
| D-Methionine | 84815 | Click to see CSCCC(C(=O)O)N | 149.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| Methionine | 6137 | Click to see CSCCC(C(=O)O)N | 149.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Phenylalanine and derivatives | |||||
| D-Phenylalanine | 71567 | Click to see | 165.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Proline and derivatives | |||||
| Proline | 145742 | Click to see C1CC(NC1)C(=O)O | 115.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Serine and derivatives | |||||
| L-Serine | 5951 | Click to see | 105.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives | |||||
| Glutamyltyrosine | 94340 | Click to see | 310.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| L-Tyrosine | 6057 | Click to see | 181.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Valine and derivatives | |||||
| Valine | 6287 | Click to see CC(C)C(C(=O)O)N | 117.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Amino acids and derivatives / Beta amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| Beta-Alanine | 239 | Click to see | 89.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Amino acids and derivatives / Gamma amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid | 119 | Click to see C(CC(=O)O)CN | 103.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Cysteine and derivatives | |||||
| D-Cystine | 6857538 | Click to see | 240.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Cysteine and derivatives / L-cysteine-S-conjugates | |||||
| (-)-Cystine | 67678 | Click to see | 240.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2621.1985.TB10514.X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Furanoisoflavonoids / Pterocarpans | |||||
| Phaseollidin | 119268 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89711-3 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |