The Anticarcinogenic Potential of Soybean Lectin and Lunasin

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, generally exceeded only by cardiovascular disease in the developed world. The number of people diagnosed with cancer within the next few decades is expected to double. There will therefore be increased demand for novel diagnostic and medical therapies that use new non-traditional sources. Soybeans contain a variety of anticarcinogenic phytochemicals. Recently, there has been increased interest in the potential health benefits of bioactive polypeptides and proteins from soybeans, including lunasin and lectins. Lunasin is a polypeptide that arrests cell division and induces apoptosis in malignant cells. Lectins are glycoproteins that selectively bind carbohydrates; lectins are used in medicine in a variety of new applications. Additional research, including clinical trials, should continue to examine and elucidate the therapeutic effects, nutritional benefits, and toxic consequences of commonly ingested soybean lectins and lunasin.

Induction of Autophagy by Concanavalin A and its Application in Anti-Tumor Therapy

“…There has also been increased interest in the potential health benefits of bioactive polypeptides and proteins from soybeans, including lunasin and lectins. 24 Pryme et al reported that the growth of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in mice after dorsal subcutaneous injection is markedly diminished by including phytohaemagglutinin, a lectin present in raw kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), in the diet. 25 The finding of mannose-specific lectins exhibiting both immunomodulating and autophagy-inducing activity which can have anti-tumor cell properties would open a new exploration for natural lectins as anti-cancer compounds.…”

Inhibitory Activity of Indonesian Soybean in comparison with Soybean Meal on Goblet Cell Count and Micro Vessel Density in Colitis-Associated Mouse Colon Carcinogenesis

“…The Previous study showed that raw soybean has a protective effect against early carcinogenesis 48 . Contents of phytochemicals in soybean that involved in therapeutic and preventive cancer are protease inhibitor, phytic acid, phytosterol, saponin, isoflavone, lectin, and lunasin [16][17][18] . Lunasin selectively causes apoptosis, mostly in cells undergoing the transformation, by preventing histone acetylation 49 .…”

“…Epidemiological studies have shown that the association between the consumption of soy or soy products with reduced risk of colorectal cancer 9-11 . Soybeans contain a variety of phytochemicals, which demonstrated anticancer activity, including isoflavone 12 , protease inhibitor 13 , saponin 14, 15 , lectin 16 , and more recently lunasin, a novel cancer preventive seed peptide bioactive peptides involved in the preventive and therapy of cancer 6, [16][17][18] . This study explores the use of Indonesian native plants, which was Grobogan soybean variety.…”

Soybean: a Multifaceted Legume with Enormous Economic Capabilities

“…They are high in protein, fiber and unsaturated fat, and rich in vitamins and minerals. They also show many anticarcinogenic properties related to the unique benefits of soy isoflavones, phytochemicals which exert biological effects in humans and other animals (de Mejia et al, 2003). In recent years, breakthroughs in food science and processing have made it possible to use soybean ingredients in new ways, creating foods that are familiar to consumers incorporating parts of the soybean for functional or nutritional purposes.…”