Vigna angularis-Adzuki

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is one of the most important food and folk medicine crops in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and Nepal. Traditional Chinese medicine tells us that it has neutral thermal properties, purifying from fire and heat, and from moisture and heat, possesses diuretic properties, is therefore used in all forms of water accumulation, edema and swelling of various kinds also associated with Job's Tears. This bean can grow in various colors, such as red, black, yellow and white2-3 based on the presence of different pigments that are known to include polyphenols such as proanthocyanidins and quercetin, catechins, chlorogenic acid and ginestein, along with constituents such as, Calcium Copper Iron Manganese Vit.C and Zinc4, arousing more and more attention for this because of their well-documented antioxidant activities 5.

Studies have also reported that their hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic effects 6, along with potent antioxidant activity, helps to lower blood pressure, vascular oxidative stress, and inflammation7. Adzuki bean extracts due to their antioxidant content have been shown to inhibit adipogenesis 8. In addition, some studies have suggested that genistein promotes lipolysis, inhibiting adipogenesis and regulating body fat by targeting the preadipocyte as a target.

In Chinese medicine, adzuki beans have always been commonly used to treat diuretic functions, and other diseases such as dropsy and beriberi. In addition, these legumes, are considered a valuable source of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals10. Due to the nutritional composition of adzuki, it is important that they become part of the formula of some food products even enriched as of our daily diet.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yu, T.; Ahn, H.M.; Shen, T.; Yoon, K.J.; Jang, H.J.; Lee, Y.J.; Yang, H.M.; Kim, J.H.; Kim, C.H.; Han, M.H.; et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract derived from Phaseolus angularis beans. Ethnopharmacol. 2011, 137, 1197-1206.

Yu, T.; Ahn, H.M.; Shen, T.; Yoon, K.J.; Jang, H.J.; Lee, Y.J.; Yang, H.M.; Kim, J.H.; Kim, C.H.; Han, M.H.; et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract derived from Phaseolus angularis beans. Ethnopharmacol. 2011, 137, 1197-1206.

Sato, S.; Mukai, Y.; Yamate, J.; Kato, J.; Kurasaki, M.; Hatai, A.; Sagai, M. Effect of polyphenol-containing azuki bean (Vigna angularis) extract on blood pressure elevation and macrophage infiltration in the heart and kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 2008, 35, 43-49.

HATHCOCK, J. N. Vitamin and Mineral Safety. 2nd ed. Washington: Council for Responsible Nutrition, 2004. 169p

Woo, K.S.; Song, S.B.; Ko, J.Y.; Seo, M.C.; Lee, J.S.; Kang, J.R.; Oh, B.G.; Nam, M.H.; Jeong, H.S.; Lee, J.S. Antioxidant components and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis var. nipponensis). Korean J. Food Sci. Technol. 2010, 42, 693-698.

Shigenori, N.; Yusuke, S.; Chihiro, S.; Jun, K.; Hiroshi, K.; Kazunori, H.; Michiyuki, K. Suppression of serum cholesterol levels in mice by adzuki bean polyphenols. Food Sci. Technol. Res. 2008, 14, 217-220

Yuuka, M.; Shin, S. Polyphenol-containing azuki bean (Vigna angularis) seed coats attenuate vascular oxidative stress and inflammation in sponaneously hypertensive rats. Nutr. Biochem. 2011, 22, 16-21.

Lee, H.; Lee, Y.J.; Choi, H.; Ko, E.H.; Kim, J.W. Reactive oxygen species facilitate adipocyte differentiation by accelerating mitotic clonal expansion. Biol. Chem. 2009, 284, 10601-10609.

Anne, W.H.; Joyce, B.H. Differential effects of flavonoids on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and lipolysis. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 2001, 280, 807-813.

PALOMBINI, S. V. et al. Antioxidant activity of brazilian bean cultivars. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 24(5):765-770, 2013a.