Bioactive Peptides from Legumes as Anticancer Therapeutic Agents

Abstract

Food proteins are a source of nutraceutical and bioactive peptides that promote health and prevent diseases. Legume seed proteins have been widely studied to produce peptides (protein fragments) with a diversity of biological activities. Generally, these Bioactive Peptides (BPs) are encrypted in proteins but can be released by modifications or cleavage from original protein by means of enzymes during gastrointestinal transit or processes as fermentation, germination, heating and pressure. Storage proteins, lectins and protease inhibitors have been reported to be sources of BPs. These peptides are capable of generating a physiological effect against cancer cells and can induce cell death by different mechanisms like apoptosis, affecting the tubulin-microtubule equilibrium and inhibiting angiogenesis. Finally, anticancer therapy based on legume-derived peptides could play a significant role in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry due to the benefits as functional ingredients which improve the life quality of patients or reduce the risk of cancer.

Nutraceutical Properties of Legume Seeds and Their Impact on Human Health

“…Flavonoids contained in legume seeds act as an antioxidant and prevent many diseases such as cancer, cataract, arteriosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, inflammation and aging [4][5][6].…”

“…Legumes are well known for the presence of different bioactive compounds such as saponins, tannins, flavonoids, isoflavones, lectins, phytic acid etc. which is important for its nutraceutical property [5,6]. Highly pigmented and dark colored legume seeds have higher level of phenolic and flavonoid content which helps in its antioxidant activity [5,[7][8][9].…”

Food Processing Industrial Byproducts as Raw Material for the Production of Plant Protein Foods

“…Moreover, the recognition of molecular structures of peptide chains is essentially required. Moreover, plant-based proteins hydrolyastes can be essentially applied in formulations of foods intended for human consumption as emulsifiers, binders, and gel-producing substances as well as promising alternative to promote human health owing to excellent properties, e.g., anti-hypertensive property (Marcela 2017;Etemadian et al 2021).…”

Natural Peptides Inducing Cancer Cell Death: Mechanisms and Properties of Specific Candidates for Cancer Therapeutics

“…This is a peptide composed of 43 amino acid residues and isolated from soybeans [185] and is recognized as containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) cell adhesion motif located at its carboxyl end [186]. Interestingly, this motif preferentially binds to deacetylated histone H4 in vitro while, in vivo, inhibits histone H3 and H4 acetylation [187]. Moreover, lunasin increases apoptosis and inhibits caspase-3 both in vitro and in vivo [188].…”