Immunomodulatory activities of edible beans and related constituents from soybean

To explore the health-modulating constituents of common edible beans, their immunomodulatory activity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was evaluated. Studies were conducted on lymphocyte transformation by BrdU immunoassay, secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) and elucidation of the responding cells by flow cytometry. The results at 20 μg/mL showed that genistein, phytic acid and syringic acid induced a Th1-predominant immune response because they significantly suppressed the secretion of IL-10 and augmented the IFN-γ production. The present study concludes that several non-nutritional ingredients of soybean such as flavonoids, plant acids and plant hormones most likely to be important in modulation of human immunity.