A peptide fraction from hardened common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) induces endothelium-dependent antihypertensive and renal effects in rats

Beans reached the research spotlight as a source of bioactive compounds capable of modulating different functions. Recently, we reported antioxidant and oxidonitrergic effect of a low molecular weight peptide fraction (<3 kDa) from hardened bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in vitro and ex vivo, which necessitate further in vivo assessments. This work aimed to evaluate the hypotensive effect and the involved physiological mechanisms of the hardened common bean peptide (Phaseolus vulgaris) in normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) animals. Bean flour was combined with a solution containing acetonitrile, water and formic acid (25: 24: 1). Protein extract (PV3) was fractioned (3 kDa membrane). We assessed PV3 effects on renal function and hemodynamics of wistar (WT–normotensive) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and measured systemic arterial pressure and flow in aortic and renal beds. The potential endothelial and oxidonitrergic involvements were tested in isolated renal artery rings. As results, we found that PV3: I) decreased food consumption in SHR, increased water intake and urinary volume in WT, increased glomerular filtration rate in WT and SHR, caused natriuresis in SHR; II) caused NO- and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in renal artery rings; III) reduced arterial pressure and resistance in aortic and renal vascular beds; IV) caused antihypertensive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Current findings support PV3 as a source of bioactive peptides and raise the potential of composing nutraceutical formulations to treat renal and cardiovascular diseases.