Phaseolus vulgaris L. Extract: Alpha-Amylase Inhibition against Metabolic Syndrome in Mice.

Micheli Micheli,Calignano Calignano,Pacini Pacini,Avagliano Avagliano,Trallori Trallori,Ghelardini Ghelardini,Caro Caro,Russo Russo,Lucarini Lucarini,Di Cesare Mannelli Di Cesare Mannelli

doi:10.3390/nu11081778

Micheli Micheli, Calignano Calignano + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081778

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Abstract

To examine the effects of the alpha-amylase inhibitor isoform 1 called phaseolamin, a standardized extract from white kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was tested against the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. The efficacy of a per os repeated treatment with P. vulgaris extract (500 mg/kg) was compared with metformin (100 mg/kg) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) in a model of metabolic syndrome evoked by prolonged high fat diet (HFD; week 1 to week 19) in C57BL/6 mice. Bean extract and compounds administration started after metabolic syndrome establishment (week 11). P. vulgaris extract reduced the body weight overtime, as well as effectively lowered glycaemia, triglycerides, and cholesterol. On week 19, bean extract normalized the HFD-evoked tolerance to glucose and insulin. According to the phytochemical characterization, it inhibited the alpha-amylase activity. Animals treated with the extract were rescued from motor impairments and nociceptive threshold alterations induced by HFD. Specific organs analysis revealed that P. vulgaris extract decreased hepatic steatosis and lipid peroxidation in liver. It protected the heart from HFD oxidative alterations increasing the expression of the detoxifying enzymes catalase and glutathione reductase, and normalizing NADH dehydrogenase level. The histological analysis of aorta showed a protection about the development of fatty streaks in the muscular layers. In conclusion, a prolonged treatment with the standardized extract of P. vulgaris significantly reduced several pathological features related to a metabolic syndrome-like condition; a multifactorial approach that candidates this vegetal product as a possible therapeutic option against metabolic syndrome.

Highlights

Metabolic syndrome was first described by [1], who named it “Syndrome X”
From the eleventh week on, the mice fed with a high fat diet were divided into three groups and treated with P. vulgaris extract 500 mg/kg, metformin
We investigated the protective effect of P. vulgaris extract repeated treatment on liver steatosis, on vascular damage, and on oxidative stress, highlighting that the mechanism of action of P. vulgaris is due to its constituent phaseolamin, an alpha-amylase inhibitor

Summary

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome was first described by [1], who named it “Syndrome X”. The interest from the investigators has increased constantly, and many were the names given to it, e.g., the insulin-resistance syndrome, the hypertriglyceridemic waist, and metabolic syndrome. The latter, the most used term in the cardiovascular field, will be used in this article to refer to this syndrome [2]. The array of disorders which compose metabolic syndrome often represent the preparatory soil for type 2 diabetes and atherogenic cardiovascular diseases [2,3,4]

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