Phaseolus proteins in the prevention of chronic diseases: The case of obesity

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) contain between 17 and 25% protein, which is composed mainly of globulins (65%) and albumins (15%), according to the Osborne solubility criterion. The major bean protein is phaseolin, a 7S globulin (40 - 50% of the total protein) followed by lectins (10 - 27% of the total protein). Although these proteins are known as anti-nutritional compounds related with protective mechanisms in the seed, in recent years, it has been demonstrated that they can play a key role in the prevention of certain types of cancer and can be used as a therapeutic agent to prevent or control obesity due to their ability to resist gastric digestion and its ability to be absorbed into the bloodstream while remaining biologically active. In vivo studies carried out with the bean protein supplied to rats produced peptide fragments which elicit secretion of hormones at the small intestine level. When the phaseolin concentration in the diet is increased, thepresence of this fully and partially digested protein in the lumen also increases, producing a high loss of weight in animals. Thus, the use of bean proteins as a dietary supplement or primary therapeutic agent in human trials could stimulate gastrointestinal function and reduce the incidence of obesity, a major health problem.