Novel Insights into Phaseolus vulgaris L. Sprouts: Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Aging Properties

Abstract

Skin aging is an inevitable and intricate process instigated, among others, by oxidative stress. The search for natural sources that inhibit this mechanism is a promising approach to preventing skin aging. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the composition of phenolic compounds in the micellar extract of Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts. The results of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of thirty-two constituents, including phenolic acids, flavanols, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, isoflavones, and other compounds. Subsequently, the extract was assessed for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase, and cytotoxic properties, as well as for the evaluation of collagen synthesis. It was demonstrated that micellar extract from common bean sprouts has strong anti-aging properties. The performed WST-8 (a water-soluble tetrazolium salt) assay revealed that selected concentrations of extract significantly increased proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts compared to the control cells in a dose-dependent manner. A similar tendency was observed with respect to collagen synthesis. Our results suggest that micellar extract from Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts can be considered a promising anti-aging compound for applications in cosmetic formulations.

Keywords: Fabaceae; LC-MS; Phaseolus; antioxidant activity; collagen synthesis; cytotoxicity; phenolic compounds; sprouts.

Figure 1

Plan of current research on Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts.

Figure 2

LC-MS chromatogram in SCAN mode for ethanol extract of P. vulgaris sprout extract.

Figure 3

Screening cytotoxicity test on common bean sprout extract towards human dermal fibroblasts: (A) (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay performed after 24 h and (B) 48 h exposure time to the extracts (Control—cells maintained in the culture medium without common bean sprout extract; * statistically significant results considered at p < 0.05 compared to the control cells according to One-way ANOVA with post hoc Dunnett’s test).

Figure 4

Biological characterization of selected concentrations of common bean sprout extract. (A) Proliferation test using human dermal fibroblasts; (B) total collagen synthesis by human dermal fibroblasts after 5-day exposure to the extract (Control—cells maintained in the culture medium without common sprout extract; * statistically significant results considered at p < 0.05 between indicated groups according to One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey’s test).