Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Phaseolus
Species: Common bean - Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Botanical Description
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), also known as French bean or runner bean, is an annual herbaceous plant from the Fabaceae (legume) family, belonging to the Phaseolus genus. The root system is well-developed, with nodules and a surface depth reaching up to one meter. The stem varies in length, and based on its structure, three forms are distinguished:

Dwarf bean (bush bean): 25–45 cm tall
Semi-climbing bean (half-runner bean): 50–75 cm tall, twining at the top
Pole bean (climbing bean): up to 3 meters tall, twining at the top

The leaves are arranged oppositely and trifoliate, with leaflets that are broadly ovate, rounded at the base, and pointed at the tip. Flowers appear in groups of 2–8 in inflorescences developing from the leaf axils. The flowers are papilionaceous and can be white, pink, or violet. The fruit is a pod. Based on fiber and sugar content, common bean varieties are classified into three groups:

Stringless beans (sugar beans)
Semi-fibrous beans (semi-sugar beans)
Fibrous beans (shell beans) [1-3]

Distribution
The plant originates from South America. As an important food crop, it has been selectively bred into numerous varieties and is cultivated from tropical to temperate regions. [3]

Effects and Uses
Common bean seeds contain lectins, proteins (up to 20%), carbohydrates (approximately 50–60%), fats (2–3.6%), fiber, vitamins (B-group and C), and minerals (4.5%; potassium, copper, zinc). The pods contain flavonoids (e.g., quercetin and kaempferol derivatives), lectins, saponins, amino acids (betaine, arginine, tryptophan, leucine, lysine, asparagine), steroids, choline, and hemicellulose. [3]

Common beans help prevent atherosclerosis, have a mild diuretic effect, and reduce cholesterol levels. [3,4] They are suitable for dietary use in cases of cardiac arrhythmia. [3] Regular bean consumption has been associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases. [4] Raw bean pods contain lectins, which can cause red blood cell clumping. However, cooking or fermentation neutralizes their toxicity. [2]

References
1. Krall, H., Kukk, T., Kull, T., Kuusk, M., Oja, T., Reier, Ü., Sepp, S., Zingel, H., Tuulik, T. (1999). Eesti Taimede Määraja.
2. VE, 2006; EME 1, 2008 (M. Raudseping); revised in 2011. http://entsyklopeedia.ee/artikkel/aeduba2
3. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus
4. Nchanji, E. B., & Ageyo, O. C. (2021). Do Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Promote Good Health in Humans? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 13(11), 3701. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113701
5. Rodríguez, L., Mendez, D., Montecino, H., Carrasco, B., Arevalo, B., Palomo, I., & Fuentes, E. (2022). Role of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases - Cardioprotective Potential of Bioactive Compounds. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(2), 186. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020186

Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Oalaadsed (Fabales)
Sugukond: Liblikõielised (Fabaceae)
Perekond: Aeduba (Phaseolus)
Liik: Aeduba - Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Harilik aeduba ehk türgi uba on üheaastane rohttaim liblikõieliste sugukonnast perekonnast aeduba. Juurestik on hästi arenenud, juuremügaratega, pindmine, kuni meetri sügavusele ulatuv. Vars võib olla erineva pikkusega. Varre ehituse järgi eristatakse 3 vormi: madal ehk põõsas-aeduba (kõrgus 25-45 cm), poolkõrge ehk poolpõõsas-aeduba (kõrgus 50-75 cm, ladvast väänduv) ja kõrge ehk latt-aeduba (kõrgus kuni 3 m, ladvast väänduv).

Leheseis on vastak. Lehed on kolmetised, lehekesed laimunajad, alusel ümarad ja tipust teravdunud. Õied paiknevad 2-8 kaupa õisikus, mis areneb lehekaenlast. Õied on liblikjad, valged, roosad või violet­sed. Vili on kaun. Kauna kiu- ja suhkrusisalduse järgi jagunevad aedoasordid 3 rühma: kiududeta aedoad ehk suhkruoad, poolkiulised aedoad ehk poolsuhkruoad ja kiulised aedoad ehk poetisaedoad. [1-3] 


Levila
Taim pärineb Lõuna-Ameerikast. Olulise toidutaimena on temast aretatud palju sorte, mida kultiveeritakse troopikast parasvöötmeni. [3]

Toime ja kasutamine
Seemnetes lektiinid, valgud (kuni 20%), süsivesikud (u 50-60%) rasvad (2-3,6%), kiudained, vitamiinid (B-rühm ja C), mineraalained (4,5 %; K, Cu, Zn). Kaunades on flavinoidid (nt kvertsetiin ja kempferooli derivaadid), lektiinid, saponiinid, aminohapped (betaiin, arginiin, trüptofaan, leutsiin, lüsiin, aspargiin), steroidid, koliin, hemitselluloos. [3]

Aeduba on ateroskleroosi ärahoidev, nõrgalt uriinieritust soodustav, kolesteroolisisaldust vähendav. [3, 4]  Sobib dieettoiduks südamerütmihäirete korral. [3] Ubade toiduks tarvitamine on vähendab südame-veresoonkonna haiguste esinemissagedust. [4] Tooretes kaunades sisalduvad lektiinid põhustavad vererakkude käkrumist. Kuumtöötlemisel või hapendamisel mürgisus kaob. [2] 

Kasutatud kirjandus
1. Krall, H., Kukk, T., Kull, T., Kuusk, M., Oja, T., Reier, Ü., Sepp, S., Zingel, H., Tuulik, T. (1999). Eesti Taimede Määraja
2. VE, 2006; EME 1, 2008 (M. Raudseping); muudetud 2011 http://entsyklopeedia.ee/artikkel/aeduba2 
3. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus
4. Nchanji, E. B., & Ageyo, O. C. (2021). Do Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Promote Good Health in Humans? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 13(11), 3701. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113701
5. Rodríguez, L., Mendez, D., Montecino, H., Carrasco, B., Arevalo, B., Palomo, I., & Fuentes, E. (2022). Role of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases-Cardioprotective Potential of Bioactive Compounds. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(2), 186. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020186.