Anticarcinogenic Activity of Phenolic Compounds from Sprouted Legumes

Germinated legumes are sources of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds (PC), with beneficial effects, one and the most relevant is anticancer activity (colon, breast, among others). Colon cancer is a severe worldwide public health concern, development of the sporadic type is mainly related to eating habits and lifestyle; but also, this type is the most frequent. Legumes have been the main sources of PC and their action on colon cancer has been studied already. Sprouting process enhances the production and types of PC, which have shown biological activities against colon cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms by which PC from germinated legumes can act beneficially on colon cancer are still unknown. This review retrieves evidence that germinated legumes improve the amount and types of PC with anti-colon cancer activity.