In vitro effects of protein fractions from Controne beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ecotype Controne) on intestinal permeability, ACE and α-amylase activities

Recent studies suggest that different types of milk-derived proteins or peptides might be active as antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial agents. Nonetheless, the research of an alternative source of bioactive peptides to avoid the different types of allergy and intolerance, caused by milk protein, could be hypothesised. Controne bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ecotype Controne) is a typical legume variety from Campania region (Controne Municipality, Salerno, Italy), characterised, on average, by a protein content of 22%. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of protein extracts (PEs) from different bean cultivars, such as Controne, Spanish White and Cannellini, to verify some peculiar biological properties, such as antiradical, anti α-amylase and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities, as well as to test in vitro the potential influence of PEs on intestinal permeability. The most promising results were provided by Controne cultivar; in particular: antiradical effect, 80%; lactulose/mannitol ratio, LMR, 0.198; α-amylase inhibition, 70%; ACE inhibition, 62%. These results suggest that Controne bean PE may be of interest for potential nutraceutical applications.