Sword bean belongs to the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, genus Canavalia and species Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. and Jack bean belongs to the species Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. Although related, jack bean and sword bean are two different species beans. While Sword bean is Canavalia gladiata, Jack bean is Canavalia ensiformis. The seeds of Sword bean are reddish pink or light brown and seeds of Jack bean are white or light tan. C. ensiformis has numerous names in English viz., Brazilian broad bean, "Coffee bean", Chickasaw lima bean, Ensiform bean, "Horse bean" (usually applied to Vicia faba), "Jack bean" (also applied to other species in the genus Canavalia), Mole bean, Overlook bean, Pearson bean, "Sword bean" (usually applied to Canavalia gladiata), Wonder bean. Common name in English: Sword Bean, Jack bean, Scimitar bean, Jamaican horse bean; Hindi: Khadsampal, Badi sem ; Manipuri: Tebi ; Tamil: Segapputampattai; Malayalam: Valpayar, Valaringha ; Telugu: Tamma ; Kannada: Tumbekonti, Shambi, Sambe, Shampe ; Bengali: Makhan shim and Sanskrit: Mahasimbi, Asisimbi. Leguminosae is one of the largest families of flowering plants with about 690 genera and 18,000 species of herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. They are believed to have originated in the late Jurassic period and expanded and diversified in the Cretaceous. Although evidence of the cultivation and utilization of dry beans as food extends to prebiblical times, accurate records of legume cultivation go back only to the 16th century. In many of the less-developed countries and tropical areas, the food grain legumes are important sources of protein and calories. In addition, legumes are an important source of several B-complex vitamins, minerals and fiber. The genus Canavalia to which the plant Canavalia gladiata, commonly known as the sword bean, belongs is one of these genera with about 48 species. This genus is tropical and subtropical with two major pulses contributing to agriculture, namely jack (Canavalia ensiformis) and sword (Canavalia gladiata) beans, which have been exploited fully as food sources. The jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) is very closely related to the sword bean. However, the seeds can be distinguished by the length of the hilum which is nearly as long as the seed in the sword bean, and less than half its length in the jack bean. The mature seeds of Canavalia gladiata were originally consumed by people of ancient India, and are now consumed even by the urbanized population. Jack and sword beans are advocated to be good sources for extending protein since the protein quality is similar to most edible food legumes. Sword bean (SB) is also a good source of medicinal properties. The Canavalia gladiata possess biological functions such as anti-inflammatory, haematopoietic improving, hepatoprotective and anti-angiogenic activity. Some studies have reported that C. gladiata efficient for protecting against bone loss, increase in antioxidant activity and improving cell profiles. Sword bean, the seed of the leguminous plant Canavalia gladiate, also has been treated as traditional medicine for containing canavanine, hemagglutinin, and concanavalin A. It has been reported that sword bean may exhibit antioxidant activity of eliminating free radicals and against oxidative stress. In addition, it also has strong anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic effects. India is often referred to as a predominantly vegetarian nation due to a combination of cultural, historical, religious and economic factors. While it's essential to note that not every individual in India is vegetarian, a significant portion of the population does follow a vegetarian diet. legumes are highly preferred in India for vegetarian diets due to their nutritional value, affordability, cultural significance, versatility, satiety, environmental considerations, and alignment with religious and cultural practices. These factors collectively make legumes an integral part of the Indian vegetarian diet and contribute to their widespread popularity. In this review article on Origin, Domestication, Taxonomy, Botanical Description, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Genetic Diversity, Breeding, Uses, Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Sword Bean are discussed.
