Inhibitory Effect of Lentils, Green Split and Yellow Peas (Sprouted and Non-sprouted) on Azoxymethane-induced Aberrant Crypt Foci in Fisher 344 Male Rats

Polyphenol-Rich Lentils and Their Health Promoting Effects

Polyphenols are a group of plant metabolites with potent antioxidant properties, which protect against various chronic diseases induced by oxidative stress. Evidence showed that dietary polyphenols have emerged as one of the prominent scientific interests due to their role in the prevention of degenerative diseases in humans. Possible health beneficial effects of polyphenols are measured based on the human consumption and their bioavailability. Lentil (Lens culinaris; Family: Fabaceae) is a great source of polyphenol compounds with various health-promoting properties. Polyphenol-rich lentils have a potential effect on human health, possessing properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Based on the explorative study, the current comprehensive review aims to give up-to-date information on nutritive compositions, bioactive compounds and the health-promoting effect of polyphenol-rich lentils, which explores their therapeutic values for future clinical studies. All data of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies of lentils and their impact on human health were collected from a library database and electronic search (Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar). Health-promoting information was gathered and orchestrated in the suitable place in the review.

A non-digestible fraction of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis during early carcinogenesis

We have previously demonstrated that the non-digestible fraction (NDF) from common cooked beans (P. vulgaris L., cv Negro 8025) inhibits azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer and influences the expression of genes involved in the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through the action of butyrate. The objective of this study was to identify cell cycle alterations and morphological changes induced by treatment with AOM and to examine the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in male Sprague Dawley rats fed with these beans. Rats were fed control diets upon arrival and were randomly placed into four groups after one week of acclimatization: control, NDF (intragastric administration), NDF + AOM and AOM. Rats treated with NDF + AOM exhibited a significantly lower number of total colonic ACF with a notable increase in the number of cells present in the G1 phase (83.14%); a decreased proliferation index was observed in the NDF + AOM group when compared to AOM group. NDF + AOM also displayed a higher number of apoptotic cells compared to AOM group. NDF of cooked common beans inhibited colon carcinogenesis at an early stage by inducing cell cycle arrest of colon cells and morphological changes linked to apoptosis, thus confirming previous results obtained with gene expression studies.