Andean Fabaceae Species with Pharmacological Potential: Exploration of Antioxidant, Anticarcinogenic, and Antimicrobial Properties

The objective of the present study was to explore the pharmacological potential of three Andean Fabaceae species— Prosopis pallida (algarrobo), Caesalpinia spinosa (tara), and Inga feuilleei (pacae)—as well as their phytochemical composition and traditional uses. A search was conducted in the Scopus database, and the bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer version 1.6.20. The interventions included antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. Tara exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds, followed by pacae and algarrobo, with flavonoids such as quercetin, coumaric acid, and isoflavones identified as responsible for this potential. Regarding microbial activity, tara demonstrated inhibitory effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while algarrobo exhibited inhibitory effects only against the latter. The considerable diversity of phenolic compounds in these species represents a broad field for research, where their cultural and nutritional reevaluation may have significant applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, contributing to health preservation. All studies support in some way the beneficial effects of phytochemicals on human health.