Toxicological Characterization of Pesticide Residue in Phaseolus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The health implications associated with consumption of food crops preserved with pesticides such as diarrhea, food poisons have been a major challenge to health practitioners and the concerned authorities, the objective of the research was to analyze the pesticide residues and compare the contamination rate with Acceptable Dietary Intake (ADI) and Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phaseolus vulgaris were purchased in two different locations, the samples were powdered using a grinder (Sumeet CM/L 2128945). Fifty grams of powdered flour were soaked in 200 mL of Methanol and the crude extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The extracts were Characterized using GC-MS and percentage compositions of identified pesticide residues were converted into mg/g as contamination rate and the toxic analysis was done by using the Osiris Online server. RESULTS: In chromatogram A, identified pesticides residue include Dieldrin (96.1 mg g-1), Indolizine (67.9 mg g-1), permethrin (99.4 mg g-1) and compounds identified in chromatogram B include dichlorvos (8.2 mg g-1), Diazinon (52.3 mg g-1), fenitrothion (17.8 mg g-1) and permethrin (122.0 mg g-1). These pesticide residues exhibited various toxicological effects, such as; mutagenic, tumorigenic effects. Moreover, the contamination rates of the identified residues were higher than both MRL and ADI. CONCLUSION: The research work had shown that the two samples had contamination rates higher than both the ADI and MRL, this could pose health hazards to the populace if consumed and it is recommended that the applications of pesticides in foods should be regulated and MRL and ADI should be adhered to.

Toxicity Assessment of Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Widely Consumed by Tunisian Population.

This research aimed at assessing the content and the functional properties of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in different varieties of beans widely consumed in Tunisia through soaking, cooking, autoclaving, germination, and their combinations. This study was carried out on three varieties of white beans grown in different localities of Tunisia, namely Twila, Coco, and Beldia, as well as on imported and local canned beans. All bean samples underwent biochemical and immunological evaluation by employing several techniques such as indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemagglutinating assay, Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Biochemical and immunological analyses indicated that raw dry beans contained a considerable amount of proteins and PHAs. ELISA demonstrated that soaking, either in plain water or in alkaline solution, caused an increase in the concentration of PHA. A slight increase of PHA was produced equally by germination during 4 days in all bean varieties. Cooking or autoclaving of presoaked beans resulted in a complete disappearance of PHA. ELISA test also proved that both imported and local canned beans contained fingerprints of PHA. Hemagglutination assays showed that not only cooked and autoclaved presoaked beans lacked the ability to agglutinate red blood cells but also autoclaved unsoaked beans did. In agar gel immunodiffusion using rabbit anti-PHA serum, raw, soaked, cooked unsoaked, and sprouted beans gave precipitin arc reactions, indicating that PHA existed in immunoreactive form in the tested seeds. SDS-PAGE electrophoretograms showed protein isolates of Twila and Beldia beans to have different profiles through soaking, cooking, and autoclaving processes. This work revealed that the combination of soaking and cooking/autoclaving was the best way in reducing PHA content and its activity in all bean varieties when compared with germination.

Efeitos da faseolamina, farinhas de feijão cru e cozido no perfil nutricional e bioquímico de ratos jovens saudáveis / Effects of phaseolamine, white bean raw and baked flours on the nutritional status and biochemical profile of healthy young rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of phaseolamine, white bean raw and baked flours on the nutritional status and biochemical profile of young healthy rats. Methods: We used 28 male rats, divided into 4 groups, receiving the following diets: C - standart diet; FA - standard diet added with phaseolamine (9g/kg of body weight); FF - standard diet with white bean raw flour (9g/kg of body weight); and FC - standard diet with white bean baked flour (9g/kg of body weight). The animals were kept in a controlled environment, receiving their respective diets and water ad libitumfor 28 days. The following variables were taken weekly: body weight, food and water intakes, urinary and fecal excretion. At the end of the study, blood collection was carried out for biochemical (glucose, lipid, liver and kidney profiles) and organ determinations for weight comparison between groups. RESULTS: It was possible to verify that the use of white bean raw flour, white bean baked flour, or phaseolamine showed no significant changes in the results of any of the variables analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of phaseolamine and white bean raw and baked flours has no effects on the nutritional status and biochemical profile of young healthy rats

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da faseolamina, farinhas de feijão branco cru e cozido no perfil nutricional e bioquímico de ratos jovens saudáveis. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 28 ratos, machos, distribuídos em quatro grupos, recebendo: C ­ dieta padrão; FA ­ dieta padrão e acréscimo de faseolamina (9g/kg de peso corporal); FF ­ dieta padrão com farinha de feijão branco cru (9g /kg de peso corporal); FC ­ dieta padrão com farinha de feijão branco cozido (9g/kg de peso corporal). Os animais permaneceram em ambiente controlado, recebendo a respectiva dieta e água ad libitum por 28 dias. Foram coletados semanalmente peso corporal, consumo alimentar, ingestão hídrica, excreção urinária e fecal. Ao final do estudo realizou-se coleta de sangue para determinações bioquímicas (perfil glicídico, lipídico, hepático e renal) e de órgãos para comparação do peso entre grupos. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que o uso da farinha de feijão branco cru, farinha de feijão branco cozido ou faseolamina não resultou em alterações significativas em quaisquer das variáveis analisadas. CONCLUSÕES: A utilização de faseolamina e farinha de feijão branco cru não possui efeitos sobre o estado nutricional e bioquímico de ratos jovens saudáveis

Dietary dry bean effects on hepatic expression of stress and toxicity-related genes in rats.

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) consumption is associated with reduced risk for a number of chronic diseases. In westernised societies, dry bean consumption is particularly low (approximately 2-4 kg/capita per year) and little information is available about the safety of increasing dietary intake in humans to achieve levels that prevent and control chronic diseases. In anticipation of a human intervention study to address the safety and efficacy of increasing bean consumption, a dose-response study with dietary beans was conducted to establish whether increased bean consumption in rats exhibits changes indicative of hepatic stress or toxicity. Transcript levels from a panel of stress and toxicity-related genes were analysed in female Sprague-Dawley rats fed a dose range of dietary beans that bracketed amounts relevant to human consumption globally. Cooked red bean was incorporated into a purified diet formulation at 0, 7·5, 15, 30 or 60 % w/w for the assessment of adaptive patterns of gene expression using quantitative PCR array. Of the eighty-four genes evaluated, the expressions of Cyp3a11, Cyp7a1, Fmo1, Gstm1, Mif and Ugt1a6 were elevated, whereas the expression of Hspa8 was down-regulated. Liver gene expression was not modulated in a manner indicative of an adverse response. Only the expression of the cholesterol 7α hydoxylase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genes increased in a dose-dependent manner at nutritionally relevant dietary bean concentrations. These candidate genes may contribute to the health benefits attributed to increased bean consumption.

Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.: a potential halophyte for the degradation of toxic textile dye, Green HE4B.

Sesuvium portulacastrum is a common halophyte growing well in adverse surroundings and is exploited mainly for the environmental protection including phytoremediation, desalination and stabilization of contaminated soil. In the present investigation, attempts have been made on the decolorization of a toxic textile dye Green HE4B (GHE4B) using in vitro grown Sesuvium plantlets. The plantlets exhibited significant (70%) decolorization of GHE4B (50 mg l(-1)) that sustain 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) within 5 days of incubation. The enzymatic analysis performed on the root and shoot tissues of the in vitro plantlets subjected to GHE4B decolorization in the presence of 200 mM NaCl showed a noteworthy induction of tyrosinase, lignin peroxidase and NADH-DCIP reductase activities, indicating the involvement of these enzymes in the metabolism of the dye GHE4B. The UV-visible spectrophotometer, HPLC and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the samples before and after decolorization of the dye confirmed the efficient phytotransformation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the products revealed the formation of three metabolites such as p -amino benzene, p -amino toluene and 1, 2, 7-amino naphthalene after phytotransformation of GHE4B. Based on the FTIR and GC-MS results, the possible pathway for the biodegradation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl has been proposed. The phytotoxicity experiments confirmed the non-toxicity of the degraded products. The present study demonstrates for the first time the potential of Sesuvium for the efficient degradation of textile dyes and its efficacy on saline soils contaminated with toxic compounds.

Suppressive potential of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) flour against five species of stored-product mites (Acari: Acarididae).

Previous research has demonstrated that legume proteins have insecticidal activity against stored-product pests, but activity against stored-product mites has not been tested. A study was therefore conducted to explore the potential of bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., flour as novel botanical acaricide against five species of storage and dust mites: Acarus siro L., Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Troupeau), Caloglyphus redickorzevi (Zachvatkin), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank), and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank). The effect of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., grain enriched with bean flour to eight concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10%) on population growth initiating from the density of 50 mites per 100 g of wheat was recorded for 21 d under laboratory conditions (grain moisture 14.6% moisture content and 25 degree C in darkness). The enrichment of grain with bean flour suppressed the population growth of all tested species: 0.01% concentration reduced population growth of all tested species to >50% in comparison with the control population. The most sensitive species were A. siro and L. destructor, followed by T. putrescentiae and C. redickorzevi. The least sensitive species was A. ovatus. The terminal (i.e., after 21 d) density of mites positively correlated with bean flour concentration. The suppressive effect of bean flour was not linear but rather asymptotic. The results of this study are discussed in the context of the application of bean flour in integrated control of stored-product mites and the elimination of stored-product mite allergens.

A Dietary supplement containing standardized Phaseolus vulgaris extract influences body composition of overweight men and women.

BACKGROUND: More than one billion human adults worldwide are overweight and, therefore, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and a variety of other chronic perturbations. Many believe that use of natural dietary supplements could aid in the struggle against obesity. So-called "starch blockers" are listed among natural weight loss supplements. Theoretically, they may promote weight loss by interfering with the breakdown of complex carbohydrates thereby reducing, or at least slowing, the digestive availability of carbohydrate-derived calories and/or by providing resistant starches to the lower gastrointestinal tract. AIMS: The present research study examines a dietary supplement containing 445 mg of Phaseolus vulgaris extract derived from the white kidney bean, previously shown to inhibit the activity of the digestive enzyme alpha amylase, on body composition of overweight human subjects. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 60 pre-selected, slightly overweight volunteers, whose weight had been essentially stable for at least six months. The volunteers were divided into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender, and body weight. The test product containing Phaseolus vulgaris extract and the placebo were taken one tablet per day for 30 consecutive days before a main meal rich in carbohydrates. Each subject's body weight, fat and non-fat mass, skin fold thickness, and waist/hip/thigh circumferences were measured. RESULTS: After 30 days, subjects receiving Phaseolus vulgaris extract with a carbohydrate-rich, 2000- to 2200-calorie diet had significantly (p<0.001) greater reduction of body weight, BMI, fat mass, adipose tissue thickness, and waist,/hip/ thigh circumferences while maintaining lean body mass compared to subjects receiving placebo. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Phaseolus vulgaris extract produces significant decrements in body weight and suggest decrements in fat mass in the face of maintained lean body mass.

Black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a protective agent against DNA damage in mice.

This study was designed to evaluate the toxicogenetic or protective effect of cooked and dehydrated black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of exposed mice. The frequency of micronuclei detected using the bone marrow erythrocyte micronucleus test and level of DNA lesions detected by the comet assay were chosen as end-points reflecting mutagenic and genotoxic damage, respectively. Initially, Swiss male mice were fed with a 20% black bean diet in order to detect mutagenic and genotoxic activity. However, no increase in the frequency of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN PCEs) or DNA lesion in leukocytes was observed. In contrast, received diets containing 1, 10 or 20% of black beans, a clear, but not dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of MN PCEs were observed in animals simultaneously treated with cyclophosphamide, an indirect acting mutagen. Similar results were observed in leukocytes by the comet assay. Commercial anthocyanin was also tested in an attempt to identify the bean components responsible for this protective effect. However, instead of being protective, the flavonoid, at the highest dose administered (50 mg/kg bw), induced primary DNA lesion, as detected by the comet assay. These data indicate the importance of food components in preventing genetic damage induced by chemical mutagens, and also reinforce the role of toxicogenetic techniques in protecting human health.

Histological alterations in the internal organs of growing chicks from feeding raw jackbean or limabean seeds.

The effect of raw jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) or limabean (Phaseolus lunatus) seeds at 0, 250 or 500 g/kg in broiler chick diets for 28 d on performance and cytopathological changes in internal organs was evaluated. Relative pancreas weight increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the lungs had severe atelectasis, thickening of the alveolar septa and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia. Slight hemorrhages were in the intestinal walls of growing chicks fed 250 g/kg or 500 g/kg of jackbean and limabean, respectively. The livers had marked congestion of the sinusoids and centrolobular veins, while the kidneys had distension of the capillary vessels with numerous thrombi. The structural alterations in the internal organs of chicks fed the plant seeds were attributed to allelochemicals in the seeds.