Oral toxicity of a lectin‐protease inhibitor fraction from Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) in rats (LB632)

Abstract

Our previous studies showed that a lectin fraction from Tepary bean exhibits low toxicity but antinutritional effects in rats. The aim of this study was to determine the in vivo effect of a lectin‐protease inhibitor fraction (LIP‐60). Three administration schedules were tested for intragastric administered LIP‐60 in Sprague Dawley rats: 1) acute toxicity was determined using a single dose of LIP‐60 per group (10, 100, 1000 mg/body weight kg), 2) for the subchronic toxicity a daily LIP‐60 dose (100 mg/body weight kg) was administered for 28 days, 3) for the long‐term scheme, LIP‐60 (100 mg/body weight kg) was administered twice a week for 6 weeks. The animals were sacrificed to obtain blood samples in order to determine markers for renal, hepatic and pancreatic damage and also the nutritional status. Acute toxicity did not show adverse effects, only the highest dose provoked lethargy for the first 12 h. Subchronic test showed piloerection, yellow hair pigmentation, diarrhea, abdominal distention, irritability, partial food intake decrease and stationary body weight gain with a 10% decrement, blood markers for toxicity or nutritional status did not show significant alterations. The long‐term scheme did not show adverse effects neither before sacrifice nor blood markers. Our results suggest that LIP‐60 present a low toxicological profile, further studies will focus on effects on gastrointestinal tract and against colon cancer.Founding: CONACYT FOMIX (QRO‐2011‐C02‐175340)