Peptides in common bean fractions inhibit human colorectal cancer cells

•Common bean peptides inhibited human colon cancer cell survival.•Two cultivars modified protein expression profile on human colon cancer cells.•Differences in protein expression correspond to cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to characterize peptides present in common bean non-digestible fractions (NDF) produced after enzymatic digestion and determine their antiproliferative action on human colorectal cancer cells. Five NDF peptides represented 70% of total protein (GLTSK, LSGNK, GEGSGA, MPACGSS and MTEEY) with antiproliferative activity on human colon cancer cells. Based on the antiproliferative effect, HCT116 cell line was most sensitive to bean Azufrado Higuera (IC50 = 0.53 mg/ml) and RKO to Bayo Madero (IC50 = 0.51 mg/ml) peptide extracts. Both cultivars increased significantly (p < 0.05) the expression of p53 in HCT116 by 76% and 68%, respectively. Azufrado Higuera modified the expression of cell cycle regulation proteins p21 and cyclin B1. Bayo Madero modified the expression of mitochondrial activated apoptotic proteins BAD, cytC, c-casp3, Survivin, BIRC7. Results suggest that peptides present in common bean NDF contributed to the antiproliferative effect on human colorectal cancer cells by modifying molecules involved in either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis.