Apios Americana Medicus: A potential staple food candidate with versatile bioactivities

Background: Apios Americana Medicus (AM), a potential staple food substitution characterized as mass production, abundant nutrition and low cost, has been consumed with a long history in eastern North American. Nowadays, AM have been cultured, consumed and studied worldwide. Nevertheless, present studies focused on AM are mainly about its nutritional values, chemical compositions and biological activities, whereas these studies only remain at their infancy, and investigations concerning AM's deep processing and application are still insufficient. Besides, current studies have dedicated to learn edible AM tuber (AMT), while less studies paid attention other parts, such as flower, leaf and vine. Scope and approach: In this review, we comprehensively reviewed and analyzed the current research progress of AM based on the literature published from 1924 to 2021, then systematically categorized and summarized the bioactive substances in different parts, presented and exemplified their biological activities. Furthermore, we have also thoroughly discussed the present shortage and challenges that AM faces, and predicted AM's possible orientation and perspectives in the future. Key findings and conclusions: AM has abundant bioactive chemicals in different parts, and demonstrates remarkable bioactivities in antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-diabetes, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-hypertension, immunoregulation, anti-tumor and improvement in post-partum uterine involution. Therefore, it is suggested that AM shows potential to become future staple food candidate with diverse bioactivities, which would enlighten some innovate ideas on increasing farmers' income, and provide potential promising strategies to solve global hunger.

Automated summary

AM has abundant bioactive chemicals in different parts and demonstrates remarkable bioactivities. The research focused on AM's nutritional values and biological activities while also discussing the present shortage and challenges. AM shows potential to become a future staple food candidate with diverse bioactivities, providing potential promising strategies to solve global hunger.