Potential role of bioactive compounds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. on lipid-lowering mechanisms

• Common beans consumption attenuates hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia
• P. vulgaris can reduce food intake and regulate neuropeptides signaling hunger
• Bioactive compounds of P. vulgaris are able to modulate hepatic lipogenic enzymes

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important source of phytochemicals with hypolipidemic properties. Since hyperlipidemia is involved in the development of several chronic diseases, the lipid-lowering feature becomes an attractive property. This review focuses in research that has been conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments about specific bioactive compounds and the proposed mechanisms of action on serum lipids reduction. The hypocholesterolemic effect of beans has been associated with their dietary fiber and resistant starch content. The mechanism of action includes inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption, binding of bile acids, increase of fecal cholesterol excretion and a putative effect on hepatic low-density lipoproteins receptor for improved lipoproteins clearance. Short-chain fatty acids, produced by the fermentation of bean fiber and resistant starch, along with phytohemagglutinin have the ability to regulate appetite and satiety, activating gut hormones receptors and modulating orexigenic neuropeptides such as ghrelin, and anorexigenic neuropeptides such as glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide tyrosine–tyrosine and cholecystokinin. Other phytochemicals such as phytosterols and saponins reduce absorption of lipids at intestinal level by binding of bile acids, cholesterol micelles disruption and downregulation of lipogenic proteins via the liver X receptor pathway.