White kidney bean extract is obtained from white kidney bean, which is considered as one of the most imperative and nutritious beans planted in Ancient Greece. White kidney bean extract has numerous health benefits and has been traditionally used as an effective anti-diabetic and weight loss aid.

How white kidney bean extract is prepared?

Below steps will discuss the method of preparing white kidney bean extract –

• At first the white kidney bean should be cleaned and rinsed properly
• Then it should be placed under a crushing machine to form powder
• After that it should be passed through a 60-mesh sieve
• Then it should be dissolved in water and heated at 70°C after that the effluent should be collected with a silica gel column
• Finally the effluent should be dried to obtain white kidney bean extract

Biological active components of white kidney bean extract

It contains various active components, which include –

• α-amylase blocker- it is an important lectin (carbohydrate binding protein) present in white kidney bean extract, which acts as carbohydrate blocker. Basically it helps to prevent the binding of carbohydrate to the enzyme alpha amylase, which is responsible for breaking it thus it helps to reduce the rate of carbohydrate absorption

• Trypsin and chymotrypsin blockers – these are accountable for blocking protein digestive enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin
• Phytohemagglutinin – it is another important lectin found in white kidney bean extract, which binds with the receptors present on the intestinal lining and hinders appetite by stimulating the release of ghrelin hormone
• Saponin – it exert antioxidant activity but it also interferes with protein digestion and minerals uptake
• Phaseolin – it is considered as one of the most important and nutritious sources of amino acid
• Phytic acid – it exerts anti-carcinogenic activity and also promotes immune health but in large amount it can interfere with the absorption of nutrients and also hamper protein digestion

Mechanism of action

The main function of white kidney bean extract is focused on glycemic control. It contains α-amylase blocker that binds with α-amylase enzyme (enzyme present in saliva as well as in pancreatic juice that helps in carbohydrate digestion) and prevents the access of carbohydrates especially starch to the enzyme. As a result it has seen that carbohydrate cannot be digested and absorbed easily, which ultimately helps to decrease the risk of increasing glucose load in blood

Role of white kidney bean extract on health and disease prevention

Role on cardiac health

• Consumption of white kidney bean extract is very effective not only for promoting cardiac health but also for decreasing the prevalence of cardio vascular diseases

• It helps to reduce the concentration of homocysteine in blood. It has seen that high level of homocysteine increases the prevalence of blood vessel blockage thus its consumption is believed to be very beneficial for decreasing the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease by preventing blockage

Role on weight management

• As mentioned above it contains phytohemagglutinin, which is an imperative lectin that helps to suppress appetite thus it facilitates weight reduction by inhibiting over eating
• It decreases the rate of carbohydrate absorption too, which is also related with preventing obesity
• It is associated with reducing fat accumulation in body, which plays imperative role in preventing visceral obesity

Anti-inflammatory activity

• It exerts anti-inflammatory activity as well
• It helps to decrease the level of pro-inflammatory mediators in body hence reduces the prevalence of inflammation, swelling and pain

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• It helps to reduce the susceptibility of cancers by preventing gene mutation, which is considered as one of the leading causes of malignancies
• Its antioxidant activity is also responsible for protecting the body from the harmful consequences of carcinogens as it helps to destroy free radicals
• It is related with suppressing the growth of tumor cells as well as cancerous cells and also inhibits their metastasis

Hypoglycemic effects

• Individual who suffer from diabetes or who are at risk condition should include white kidney bean extract in their regular diet as it exhibits potent hypoglycemic effect
• As mentioned above it is associated with preventing the binding of carbohydrates to carbohydrate splitting enzymes thus it slows down the rate of carbohydrate digestion as well as carbohydrate absorption as a result it significantly decreases postprandial blood glucose spike

Role on digestive health

• Its consumption is very effective for promoting digestive health
• Its fibre content plays imperative role in promoting the growth of intestinal beneficial microbes thus helps to improve gut health
• Its fibre content is also responsible for improving bowel movement thus helps to prevent constipation
• Its anti-inflammatory activity is responsible for protecting the gastrointestinal tract from inflammatory damages thus its consumption is thought to be extremely effective for improving the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel syndrome

Role on skin

• Consumption of white kidney bean extract significantly improves skin health
• Its antioxidant activity plays imperative role in preventing ageing and it also decreases the risk of developing dermal disorders by reducing oxidative stress

• It helps to prevent wrinkles
• It also helps to provide the skin a younger look and helps to clean the face

Cleansing property

• It contains molybdenum, which is responsible for cleaning sulfite from body
• It has seen that too much exposure of sulfite is responsible for developing various health complications like hypotension, urticaria, dermatitis, diarrhoea and abdominal pain thus consumption of white kidney bean extract is believed to be very effective for decreasing these above stated complications

Role on mental health

• Being a good source of vitamin B complex it is considered as an imperative therapeutic substance for improving mental health
• It helps to provide proper nourishment to neuron and also protects neuron from oxidative damages thus promotes brain’s activity
• It helps to improve mood as well
• It also improves memory

Role on circulation

• It plays imperative role in regulating blood circulation
• Its magnesium content is responsible for regulating heart beat that provides a positive impact on blood circulation
• It also helps to improve endothelial health as well as functionality
• It is associated with cleansing the artery from various substances that accumulate in the wall of artery thus increases circulation
• As it helps to increase circulation thus it is widely used as an imperative therapeutic substance for decreasing hypertension

Other health benefits

• It helps to improve the energy level
• It also helps to improve oral health

Risk factors

• Though it offers various health benefits but it should be consumed as per recommendation because overconsumption of white kidney bean extract may cause various health hazards like nausea, vomiting, flatulence, bloating, diarrhoea and allergies
• It is better to avoid the use of white kidney bean extract during childhood
• Pregnant and lactating women should also consult with health experts before consuming it
• As it contains phytohemagglutinin thus its over consumption is associated with phytohemagglutinin accumulation that may exerts toxic effect to the body
• Its excessive consumption may also increase the risk of autoimmune disease
• Consumption of white kidney bean extract in large dose may interfare with hepatic functions as well

Thus it is always better to consume white kidney bean extract in moderation and not more than the recommended dose which is recognized as 450 to 1500 mg per day.

Jutarat, M., 2014. Alpha-amylase inhibition activity of white kidney bean (phaseolus vulgaris) extract (Doctoral dissertation, School of Food Technology Institute of Agricultural Technology Suranaree University of Technology).

Nolan, R., Shannon, O.M., Robinson, N., Joel, A., Houghton, D. and Malcomson, F.C., 2020. It’s no has bean: A review of the effects of white kidney bean extract on body composition and metabolic health. Nutrients, 12(5), p.1398.

Preuss, H.G., 2009. Bean amylase inhibitor and other carbohydrate absorption blockers: effects on diabesity and general health. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 28(3), pp.266-276.

Qin, G., Wang, F., Liang, H., Tang, S., Shekh, K., Wang, Y., Li, B., Dong, B. and Wen, P., 2019. Subchronic Study of a White Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Extract with α-Amylase Inhibitory Activity. BioMed research international, 2019.

Wang, S., Chen, L., Yang, H., Gu, J., Wang, J. and Ren, F., 2020. Regular intake of white kidney beans extract (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) induces weight loss compared to placebo in obese human subjects. Food science & nutrition, 8(3), pp.1315-1324.

Yan-li, M.A., Yi-feng, R.A.N.G., Wei, Z.H.A.O. and Rui-jin, Y.A.N.G., 2017. Study on the inhibitory properties ofα-amylase inhibitor from white kidney beans. 食品工业科技, (12), pp.109-112.