Insights & Discussion
Modern extraction techniques improve the extraction of bioactive compounds from black soybeans, which have potential use in functional foods and nutraceutical components.
These modern extraction techniques involve the application of technologies such as microwaves, ultrasounds, and enzymes. Contrary to traditional methods that depend on simple yet toxic solvents, these contemporary options yield higher amounts of bioactive substances from black soybeans, are quicker, and are less damaging to the environment. The exact bioactive compounds extracted include anthocyanins, phenolic acids, isoflavones, and flavones, among others.
Researchers discovered that black soybeans, and specifically their seed coat, are rich in various bioactive compounds. These compounds have been reported to possess numerous health benefits, showing antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, cardio and neuroprotective activities. The study also explores how these soybean extracts have been used in the manufacture of food products like noodles, in the development of biodegradable films with pH sensitivity, and in therapeutic applications such as promoting wound healing and alleviating inflammation. The comprehensive review, therefore, serves as a handy reference for food manufacturers and scientists, showcasing the vast potential of black soybeans in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals.
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Adzuki bean extracts have shown more potential than black soybean extracts in lowering blood pressure in hypertensive rats, acting on the renin-angiotensin system.
2021 Foods Black Soybean and Adzuki Bean Extracts Lower Blood Pressure by Modulating the Renin-Angiotensin System in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Jeong EW, Park SY, Yang YS, Baek YJ, Yun DM, Kim HJ, et al.
Animal Study Adzuki Bean Black Soybean Renin-Angiotensin System
The methodology used in this research involved the administration of varying volumes of black soybean and adzuki bean ethanol extracts to seven groups of rats, which included one group of normal rats and six groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The purpose of the extracts was to explore their antihypertensive effects on aspects such as blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin system, and aortic lesions.
The results revealed that black soybean and adzuki bean extracts significantly reduced various biomarkers such as liver weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure. On a comparative basis, the adzuki bean extracts (AE) demonstrated a greater antihypertensive potential than black soybean extracts (BE). Specifically, the angiotensin II level and blood pressure in the AE-treated group were lower than those in the BE-treated group, leading to the conclusion that AE exhibits higher antihypertensive potential.
Black soyabean seed coat extract significantly decreases hepcidin expression, leading to improved iron metabolism and potential treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia.
2014 British Journal of Nutrition Black soyabean seed coat extract regulates iron metabolism by inhibiting the expression of hepcidin Mu M, Wu A, An P, Du X, Wu Q, Shen X, et al.
Experimental Study Anaemia Black Soybean Hepcidin
The research employed both in vitro and in vivo experimental designs using cells treated with black soyabean seed coat extract (BSSCE) and 8-week-old male mice fed with a diet containing 2% BSSCE respectively. The study measured the effect of this extract on the expression of hepcidin, which is known to regulate iron homeostasis. In addition to this, its impact on splenic iron concentrations, serum iron concentrations and the phosphorylation levels of specific proteins was assessed.
The study found that BSSCE effectively inhibited the expression of hepcidin in both the in vitro and in vivo investigations. The mice given a diet containing BSSCE showed a decrease in hepatic hepcidin expression and splenic iron concentrations, while at the same time, an increase was observed in serum iron concentrations. The BSSCE induced this change through a decrease in the phosphorylation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog proteins. There were marked increases in erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations, and hematocrit values in the test mice, indicating improved iron metabolism. This suggest that black soyabean extract has potential in regulating iron metabolism, presenting possibilities for the treatment of hepcidin-related diseases, including iron-deficiency anaemia.
Adzuki bean exhibited the strongest antiproliferative properties in a dose-dependent manner against all digestive system cancer cell lines, ovary cancer cell SK-OV-3 and breast cancer cell MCF-7 among all legumes tested.
2012 Food Chemistry Comparative study on antiproliferation properties and cellular antioxidant activities of commonly consumed food legumes against nine human cancer cell lines Xu B, Chang SKC
Experimental Study Adzuki Bean Anticancer Antioxidant
This research involved comparing the health-promoting effects of various food legumes. The Cellular Antioxidant Activity (CAA) was assessed using a fluorescence microplate reader and in vitro animal cell cultivation. The antiproliferative properties against cancer cells were evaluated through the MTT method in an in vitro cell culture system. Additionally, the study quantified phytochemicals (total phenolic, procyanidin, saponin, and phytic acid) and chemical antioxidant activities (DPPH free radical scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbing capacity, peroxyl radical scavenging capacity).
The results indicated significant variations in phytochemical and antioxidant activities among different legumes. Notably, adzuki bean demonstrated the strongest dose-dependent antiproliferative effects against various cancer cell lines, including those from the digestive system, ovary, and breast. Meanwhile, black soybean showed the highest levels of saponin, phytic acid, and the strongest cellular antioxidant activities. These findings suggest that food legumes, particularly adzuki beans and black soybeans, are promising as natural antioxidants for health promotion and cancer prevention.