Abstract
A brief survey is presented of the most relevant heat labile and heat stable natural toxicants found in syobean and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Investigators, aided by rapid development of biochemical instrumentation and techniques, have concentrated upon the elucidation of the chemistry of proteinaceous protease inhibitors and glycoproteins with lectin character. It appears that the low M.W protease inhibitor (abt. 10000) in raw legume meal is in part responsible for the pancreatic hypertrophy observed in rats and chicks fed raw legume meal as the principal source of dietary protein, whilst the large M.W. lectin (abt. 100000) from raw navy bean has been found to be lethal to conventional but not to germfree quail. No real explanation has been advanced for the poor growth observed when these small animals feed on protein from raw legumes.
The convential temperatures and heating times used to inactivate these inhibitors are discussed. There is a lack of scientific information as to the low levels of inhibitors or toxicants that would be tolerated in heated legumes and the heattreatment required to achieve acceptable low levels of toxicants commensurate with the achievement of optimum palatability and preservation of the maximum nutritional value of the legume protein.
Zusammenfassung
Ein kurzer Ueberblick wird gegeben über die relevantesten Hitze-labilen und Hitzebeständigen natürlichen Giftstoffe in Soja und Trockenbohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris). Forscher, gefördert durch die rapide Entwicklung der biochemischen Apparatetechnik, hatten sich um die Aufklärung des Chemismus der eiweissartigen Protease-Inhibitoren und der Glykoproteine mit Lektin-Charakter bemüht. Der niedermolekular wichtige (ung. 10.000) Protease-Inhibitor erscheint zum Teil für die pankreatische Hypertrophie verantwortlich zu sein, die man in Ratten und Kücken beobachtete, die mit ungekochten Hülsenfrüchtpulver als Haupteiweiß verfüttert wurden. Das hochmolekulare Lektin (ung. 100.000) aus Gartenbohnen war lethal für konventionelle aber nicht Keimfreie Wachteln. Es gibt noch keine vollkommene Erklärung für das schlechte Wachstum, wenn an Kleintiere Eiweiß ungekochter Leguminosen verfüttert wurden.
Die üblichen Temperaturen und Erhitzungszeiten zur Inaktivierung dieser Inhibitoren wird diskutiert. Es gibt noch nicht genügend wissenschaftliche Informationen über die niedrigsten Konzentrationen von Inhibitoren und toxischen Stoffen, die in erhitzten Leguminosen toleriert werden können sowie über die Wärmebedingen, die erforderlich sind, um akzeptierbare niedrige Konzentrationen an toxischen Substanzen zusammen mit optimalem Geschmack und Erhaltung eines maximalen Nährwertes des Leguminosen Eiweißes zu erreichen.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, A.T. (1974). Navy (naricot)-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectin. and Characterization of two Components from a Toxic Agglutimating Extract.Biochem. J. 139:421–429.
Andrews, A.T. & Jayne-Williams, D.J. (1974). The Identification of a Phytohaemagglutinin in Raw Navy Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.). Toxic for the Japanese Quail (Coturuix colurin japonica).Br. J. Nutr. 32:181–189.
Aykroyd, W.R. & Doughty, J. (1964). Legumes in Human Nutrition. FAO Nutrition Studies, No. 19 FAO, Rome.
Booth, A.N., Robbins, D.J., Ribelin, Wm.E. & DeEas, F. (1960). Effect of Raw Soybean Meal and Amino Acids on Pancreatic Hypertrophy in Rats.Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med. 104:1067–1069.
Bressani, R., Flores, M. & Elias (1973). Acceptability and Value of Food Legumes in the Human Diet. In: ‘Potentials of Field Beans and other Food Legumes in Latin America’. pp. 17–48. Series Seminars No. 2E; CIAT, Cali. Colombia, S.A.
Calloway, D.H. (1975). Gas-Froming Property of Food Legumes. In ‘Nutritional Improvement of Food Legumes by Breeding’. pp. 263–270. Ed. Max Milner, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Carpenter, J.K. (1970). Nutritional Considerations in Attempts to change the Chemical Composition of Crops.Proc. Nutr. Soc. 29:3–12.
Chernik, S.S., Lepkovsky, S. & Chaikoff, I.L. (1948). A Dietary Factor Regulating the Enzyme Content of the Pancreas. Changes Induced in Size and Proteolytic Activity of the Chick Pancreas by the Digestion of Raw Soybean Meal.Am. J. Physiol. 155:33–41.
Coates, M.E., Hewitt, D. & Golob, P. (1970). A Comparison of the Effect of Raw and Heated Soy-bean Meat in Diets for Germ-free and Conventional Chicks.Br. J. Nutr. 24:213–225.
Elias, L.G., Bressani, R. & Flores, M. (1973). Problems and Potentials in Storage and Processing of Food Legumes in Latin America. Acceptability and Value of Food Legumes in the Human Diet. In: ‘Potentials of Field Beans and Other Food Legumes in Latin America’. pp. 52–87. Series Seminars No. 2E; CIAT, Cali. Colombia, S.A.
Etzler, M.E. (1974). Use of Plant Agglutinins in Characterization of Glycoproteins and Glycolipids from Mammalian Cells.Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 224:260–275.
Etten van, C.H. (1969).Goitrogens. Chap. 4:103–142. In: ‘Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs’. (Liener, I.E. ed.) 1969. Second Printing 1972. Academic Press, New York and London.
Fritz, H. & Tschesche, H. (ed.) (1971). Proceedings of the First International Research Conference on Proteinase Inhibitors. Institut für Klinische Chemie and Klinische Biochemic der Universität München. Munich, Germany Walter de Gruyter, New York.
Gertler, A. & Nitzan, Z. (1970). The Effect of Trypsin Inhibitors on Pancreatopeptidase E. Trypsin, Chymotrypsin and Amylase in the Pancreas and Intestinal Tract of Chicks Receiving Raw and Heated Soya-Bean Diets.Br. J. Nutr. 24:893–904.
Green, G.M. & Lyman, R.L. (1972). Feed-back Regulation and Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion as a Mechanism for Trypsin Inhibitor-Induced Hypersecretions in Rats.Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 14:6–11.
Green, G.M., Olds, B.A., Matthews, G. & Lyman, R.L. (1973). Protein as a Regulator of Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion in the Rat.Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 142:1162–1167.
Hernandez, A. & Jaffé, W.G. (1968). Inhibidor de la amilasa pancreatica en carotas (Phaseolus vulgaris).Acte Cient. Venezolana 19:183–185.
Hutchinson, J.B. (1970). The Evolutionary Diversity of the Pulses.Proc. of Nutr. Soc. 29:49–55.
Honavar, P.M., Shih, Ch.V. & Liener, I.E. (1962). Inhibitor of Growth of Rats by Purified Haemagglutinin Fraction Isolated fromPhaseolus Vulgaris.J. Nutr. 77:109–114.
Jaffé, W.G. (1949). Toxicity of Raw Kidney Beans.Experientia 5:81.
Jaffé, W.G. (1960). Uber Phytotoxine ans Bohnen.Arzneimittel. Forsch. 10:1012–1016.
Jaffé, W.G. (1969). Hemagglutinins. Chap. 3: 69–101. In: ‘Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs’ (Liener, I.E. Ed.) 1969. Second Printing 1972. Academic Press. New York and London.
Jaffé, W.G. & Gaede, K. (1959). Purification of Toxic Phytohemagglutinin from Black Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris).Nature 183:1329–1330.
Jaffé, W.G. & Vega Lette, C.L. (1968). Heat Labile Growth Inhibiting Factors in Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris).J. Nutr. 94:203–210.
Jaffé, W.G., Romeo, R. & Wallis, V. (1973). Amylase Inhibitors in Seeds.Nutrition Reports International 7:169–173.
Jayne-Williams, D.J. & Burgess, C.D. (1974). Further Observations on the Toxicity of Navy Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) for Japanese Quail (Coturisix coturnix japonica).J. appl. Bact. 37:149–169.
Kakade, M.L. (1974). Biochemical Basis for the Differences in Plant Protein Utilization.J. Agr. Food Chem. 22:550–555.
Kakade, M.L., Hoffa, D.E., Liener, I.E. (1973). Contribution of Trypsin Inhibitors to the Deleterious Effects of Unheated Soybeans Fed to Rats.J. Nutr. 103:1772–1778.
Kakade, M.L. & Evans, R.J. (1965). Nutritive Value of Navy Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris).Br. J. Nutr. 276–296.
Kakade, M.L., Simons, N. & Liener, I.E. (1969). Nutritional Effects Induced in Rats by Feeding Natural and Synthetic Trypsin Inhibitors.J. Nutr. 62:269–284.
Korte, R. (1972). Heat Resistance of Phytohaemagglutinins in Weaning Food Mixtures Containing Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris).Ecol. of Food Nutr. 1:303–307.
Laskowski, M.J. & Sealock, R.W. (1971). Protein Proteinase Inhibitors — Molecular Aspects. In: ‘The Enzymes’ Vol. III, p. 385. Boyer (ed.) Academic Press, New York and London.
Liener, I.E. (1974). Phytohaemagglutinins: Their Nutritional Significance.J. Agr. Food Chem. 22:17–22.
Liener, I.E. (1971). The Intraperitoneal Toxicity of Crude Concentrates of Soybean Trypsin Inhibitors.J. Biol. Chem. 193:183–191.
Liener, I.E. (1953). Soyin, A Toxic Protein from the Soybean.J. Nutr. 49:527–539.
Liener, I.E. (ed.) (1969). ‘Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs. Second Printing 1972. Academic Press, New York and London.
Liener, I.E. (1975). Antitryptic and Other Antinutritional Factors in Legumes. In: ‘Nutritional Improvements of Food Legumes by Breeding’, pp. 239–258. Max Milner (ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. New York and London.
Liener, I.E. & Pallansh, M.J. (1952). Purification of a Toxic Substance from Defatted Soybean Flour.J. Biol. Chem. 197:29–36.
Liener, I.E. & Hill, E.G. (1953). The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Nutritive Value and Hemagglutinating Activity of Soybean Oil Meal.J. Nutr. 49:609–620.
Liener, I.E. & Kakade, M.L. (1969). Protease Inhibitors, Chap. 2: 7–68. In: ‘Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs’ (Liener, I.E. ed.), 1969. Second Printing 1972. Academic Press, New York and London.
Lis, H., Fridman, C., Sharon, N. & Katchalski, E. (1966). Multiple Hemagglutinins in Soybean.Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 177:301–309.
Lis, H. & Sharon, N. (1973). The Biochemistry of Plant Lectins (Phytohemagglutinins).Ann. Rev. Biochem. 42:514–574.
Lyman, R.L. & Lepkovski, S. (1957). The Effect of Raw Soybean Meal and Trypsin Inhibitor Diets on Pancreatic Enzymes Secretions in the Rat.J. Nut. 62:269–284.
Marshall, J.J., Lauda, C.A. & Whelan, W.J. (1975). Naturally Occurring Inhibitors of α-amylase. ACS Symp. Ser. 15.
Melmed, R.N. & Bouchier, I.A.D. (1969). A Further Physiological Role for Naturally Occurring Trypsin Inhibitors: The Evidence for a Trophic Stimulant of the Pancreatic Acinar Cell. Gut. 10: 973–979.
Miller, J.B., Noyes, C., Heinrikson, R., Kingdin, H.S. & Yachnin, S. (1973). Phytohemagglutinin Mitogenic Proteins.J. Exp. Med. 138:939–979.
Molina, M.R., Fuente de la, G. & Bressani, R. (1975). Inerrelationship Between Storage, Soaking Time, Cooking Time, Nutritive Value and Other Characteristics (Phaseolus Vulgaris).J. Food. Sci. 40:587–591.
Montgomery, R.D. (1969). Cyanogens. Chap. 5: 143–158. In: ‘Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs’. (Liener, I.E. ed.) 1969. Second Printing 1972. Academic Press, New York and London.
Nat'l Acad. of Sciences (1973). ‘Toxicants Occurring Naturally in Foods’. 2nd ed., Washington D.C.
Nestel, B. & MacIntyre, R. (edts) (1973). Chronic Cassava Toxicity. Proceedings of an Interdisciplinary Workshop, London. Publ. International Development Res. Centre, Ottawa, Can.
Nicolson, G.L. (1974). Interaction of Lectins with Animal Cell Surfaces.Int. Rev. of Cytol. 39:90–190.
Olsnes, S. (1972). Toxic Proteins Inhibiting Protein Synthesis.Naturwissenschaften 59:497–502.
Olsnes, S., Refsner, K., Christensen, T.B. & Phil, A. (1975). Studies on the Structure and Properties of Lectins fromAbrus Precatorius andRicinus Communis.BBA. 405:1–10.
Osborne, T.B. & Mendel, L.B. (1917). The Use of Soybean as Food.J. Biol. Chem. 32:369–387.
Pincherra, A., MacGilliray, M.H., Crawford, J.D. & Freeman, A.S. (1965). Thyroid Refractoriness in Athyreotic Cretin Fed Soybean Formula.New Engl. J. of Medicine 273:83–87.
Rackis, J.J. (1965). Physiological Properties of Soybean Trypsin Inhibitors and their Relationship to Pancreatic Hypertrophy and Growth Inhibition of Rats.Fed. Proc. 24:1488–1493.
Rackis, J.J. (1974). Biological and Physiological Factors in Soybean.J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 51:161A-174A.
Rackis, J.J., McGhee, J.E. & Booth, A.N. (1975). Biological Threshold Levels of Soybean Trypsin Inhibitors by Rat Bioassay.Cereal Chem. 52:85–92.
Saterlee, L.D., Bembers, M. & Kendrick, J.G. (1975). Functional Properties of Great Northern Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Protein Isolates.J. Food Sci. 40:81–84.
Sharon, N. & Lis, H. (1972). Lectins: Cell-Agglutinating and Sugar-Specific Proteins.Science 177:949–959.
Vogel, R., Trautschold, I. & Werle, E. (1968). Natural Proteinase Inhibitors. Academic Press, New York and London.
Wilson, K.A. & Laskowski, M.Sr. (1973). Isolation of Three Isoinhibitors of Trypsin from Garden Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris), Having either Lysine of Arginine at the Reactive Site.J. Biol. Chem. 248:756–762.
Wilson, K.A. & Laskowski, M.Sr. (1975). The Partial Amino Acid Sequence of Trypsin Inhibitor II from Garden Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris), with Location of the Trypsin and Elastase-Reactive Sites.J. Biol. Chem. 250:4261–4267.
Williams, Dr.L. (1924). The Science and Art of Living. In: ‘Lancet’, No. 790 9, 29th March 1975, p. 728.
Whittaker, J.R. & Feeney, R.E. (1973). Enzyme Inhibitors in Foods. In: ‘Toxicants Occuring Naturally in Foods’. 2nd ed. p. 276, Nat'l Acad. of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Paper read on the 8th International mutual Congress of Quality Research of the CIQ/DGQ in Wädenswit/Switzerland from 7th to 10th oct. 1975.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stein, M. Natural toxicants in selected leguminous seeds with special reference to their metabolism and behaviour on cooking and processing. Plant Food Hum Nutr 26, 227–243 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01268205
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01268205