Changes

Enzyme-resistant fractions of adzuki bean seeds have shown hypocholesterolaemic effects in rats. Hot water extracts have shown in-vivo hypoglycaemic and antitumour properties. Water extracts of the seed coat have shown hepatoprotective activity.

Annual, usually bushy and erect herb up to 90 cm tall, sometimes climbing or prostrate and rooting at the nodes; taproot 40–50 cm long. Leaves alternate, 3-foliolate; stipules small, peltate, often bifid with basal appendages; stipels lanceolate; leaflets lanceolate to ovate, 5–10 cm × 5–8 cm, acuminate, entire to 3-lobed. Inflorescence an axillary false raceme, 2–20-flowered; peduncle long in lower nodes to very short in upper nodes. Flowers papilionaceous, bisexual; pedicel short, bearing an extrafloral nectary at base; bracteoles longer than calyx; calyx campanulate, with short teeth; corolla 15–18 mm long, bright yellow, standard orbicular, wings oblong, keel turned towards the right, with a horn-shaped spur on the left side; stamens 10, 9 fused and 1 free; ovary superior, shortly hairy, style abruptly bent in upper part, hairy on one side near top, stigma lateral, discoid. Fruit a cylindrical pod 5–13 cm × 0.5 cm, pendulous, slightly constricted between the seeds, nearly glabrous, pale yellow, blackish or brown, 2– 14-seeded. Seeds cylindrical with rounded ends, flattened, 5–7.5 mm × 4–5.5 mm, smooth, wine red, occasionally buff, creamish, black or mottled. Seedling with hypogeal germination; primary leaves simple, opposite, cordate.