Common bean protein hydrolysate modulates lipid metabolism and prevents endothelial dysfunction in BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) protein hydrolysate is a source of bioactive peptides with known health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of common bean protein hydrolysate on lipid metabolism and endothelial function in male adult BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet for nine weeks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male adult mice were divided into three experimental groups (n = 12) and fed with normal control diet; atherogenic diet and atherogenic diet added with bean protein hydrolysate (700 mg/kg/day) for nine weeks. Food intake, weight gain, lipid profile, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, inflammation biomarkers and endothelial function were evaluated. APH group presented reduced feed intake, weight gain, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-α, angiotensin II (94% and 79%, respectively) and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Protein hydrolysate showed hypocholesterolemic activity preventing inflammation and dysfunction of vascular endothelium, in addition to decreasing oxidative stress, indicating an adjuvant effect on reducing atherogenic risk.

Alcohol-free fermented blueberry-blackberry beverage phenolic extract attenuates diet-induced obesity and blood glucose in C57BL/6J mice.

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of phenolic compounds from a fermented blackberry-blueberry beverage to reduce diet-induced obesity and hyperglycemia in mice fed a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) for 10weeks after 1week of pretreatment. C57BL/6J mice were randomized into six groups and allowed to drink (ad libitum) an alcohol-free blackberry-blueberry beverage [alcohol-free fermented beverage (AFFB), 8.4mg anthocyanin (ANC)/kg body weight (BW)/day]; three doses of a phenolic extract [postamberlite extract (PAE)] from AFFB at 0.1×, 1× and 2× ANC concentrations; sitagliptin (hypoglycemic positive control); or water (negative control). Weight and fat mass gain were attenuated in mice receiving the highest doses of PAE (18.9mg ANC/kg BW/day, P<.05). There were also reductions (P<.05) in percent fat mass, epididymal fat pad weights, mean adipocyte diameters and plasma triglycerides and cholesterol associated with PAE treatments. By the end of the study, fasting blood glucose for mice receiving 9mg (1×) or 18.9mg (2×) ANC/kg BW/day was significantly lower than in the water and the sitagliptin groups (P<.05). Histological and histochemical analyses revealed an unexpected change in liver of mice fed ANC at 1× or 2× doses consisting of liver enlargement and increased lipid deposition. PAE also induced the most differential gene expression changes, including highly significant downstream effects at all doses to reduce d-glucose concentrations. Overall, phenolic compounds from the fermented blueberry-blackberry beverage had an impact to attenuate the development of obesity and fasting blood glucose in C57BL/6J mice.

Anthocyanins from fermented berry beverages inhibit inflammation-related adiposity response in vitro.

Increased adiposity has been associated with macrophage infiltration into the adipose tissue which, in turn, leads to obesity comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of anthocyanin (ANC)-enriched fractions from blackberry-blueberry beverages on inflammation and adipogenesis in an in vitro model of inflammation mimicking the pathologic interaction between adipocytes and macrophages. Blend ANCs inhibited secretion of nitric oxide (17.5%), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (89.4%), and phosphorylated-p65 nuclear factor kappa-B (52.1%) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages after 24 h. Blends reduced intracellular fat accumulation (28.2%) when applied during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and inhibited isoproterenol-induced lipolysis (18.6%) of mature 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, blend ANCs restored adiponectin-blunted gene expression induced by the TNF-α treatment (18.2%) and reduced the glycerol release (15.9%) induced by LPS-induced macrophage-conditioned media (CM) in adipocytes. Furthermore, blends slightly restored the insulin-induced glucose uptake of adipocytes, blunted by the CM treatment. In conclusion, ANCs from blueberry and blackberry dealcoholized fermented beverages are potential inhibitors of inflammation-related adiposity response and sensitizers of insulin signaling in adipocytes.

Peptides in pepsin-pancreatin hydrolysates from commercially available soy products that inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in macrophages.

The potential of pepsin-pancreatin hydrolysates, from different foods, to inhibit inflammation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages as an in vitro model was evaluated. Eight different products were digested sequentially with pepsin and pancreatin and were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties. Hydrolysates from strawberry-banana soymilk (SBH), mixed berry soymilk (MXH) and vanilla soymilk (SVMH) inhibited the production of nitric oxide (27.9%, 16.4% and 28.6%, respectively), interleukin-1ß (26.3%, 39.5% and 21.6%, respectively) and tumour necrosis factor-α (50.2%, 47.5% and 33.3%, respectively). In addition, SBH, MXH and SVMH inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes: inducible nitric oxide synthase (66.7%, 65.1% and 88.0%, respectively) and cyclooxygenase-2 (62.0%, 69.9% and 40.6%, respectively). Bioactive peptides (RQRK and VIK) were generated. In conclusion, soymilk products can potentially be used to maintain health under inflammatory stress.

The soybean peptide lunasin promotes apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells via induction of tumor suppressor PTEN: similarities and distinct actions from soy isoflavone genistein.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Diet and lifestyle are major contributing factors to increased breast cancer risk. While mechanisms underlying dietary protection of mammary tumor formation are increasingly elucidated, there remains a dearth of knowledge on the nature and precise actions of specific bioactive components present in foods with purported health effects. The 43-amino acid peptide lunasin (LUN) is found in soybeans, is bioavailable similar to the isoflavone genistein (GEN), and thus may mediate the beneficial effects of soy food consumption. Here, we evaluated whether LUN displays common and distinct actions from those of GEN in non-malignant (mouse HC11) and malignant (human MCF-7) mammary epithelial cells. In MCF-7 cells, LUN up-regulated tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome ten (PTEN) promoter activity, increased PTEN transcript and protein levels and enhanced nuclear PTEN localization, similar to that shown for GEN in mammary epithelial cells. LUN-induced cellular apoptosis, akin to GEN, was mediated by PTEN, but unlike that for GEN, was p53-independent. LUN promoted E-cadherin and ß-catenin non-nuclear localization similar to GEN, but unlike GEN, did not influence the proliferative effects of oncogene Wnt1 on HC11 cells. Further, LUN did not recapitulate GEN inhibitory effects on expansion of the cancer stem-like/progenitor population in MCF-7 cells. Results suggest the concerted actions of GEN and LUN on cellular apoptosis for potential mammary tumor preventive effects and highlight whole food consumption rather than intake of specific dietary supplements with limited biological effects for greater health benefits.

Effect of cultivar and growing location on the trypsin inhibitors, tannins, and lectins of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in the semiarid highlands of Mexico.

Trypsin inhibitors (TI), tannins, and lectins appear to have a role in preventing chronic diseases in humans. The genetic variability of these traits in common bean needs to be ascertained in order to increase levels through breeding. The variability of TI, tannin, and lectins was determined in five bean cultivars grown at five locations in Mexico. TI and tannins contents in colored beans that belong to the Jalisco race were higher (11.1-11.9 trypsin units inhibited (TUI)/mg and 29.0-38.1 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g, respectively) than cultivars of the Durango race (7.9-8.3 TUI/mg and 16.8-19.9 CE/mg, respectively). Bayo Victoria, a Durango race cultivar, had three times more lectins than levels reported for soybean. Cultivar influenced TI and tannins contents (p < 0.001), whereas site affected lectins (p < 0.001). An increase in levels of TI and tannins could be enhanced through breeding.