See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/41406904

Beans and Diabetes: Phaseolus vulgaris Preparations as Antihyperglycemic

Agents

Article  in  Journal of medicinal food · April 2010

DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0002 · Source: PubMed

CITATIONS READS

42 1,797

1 author:

Axel Helmstaedter
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
83 PUBLICATIONS   335 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Ethnopharmacology in the work of exploring botanists View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Axel Helmstaedter on 31 May 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

JMF-2009-0002-Helmstadter_1P.3D 12/30/09 5:38pm Page 1

JMF-2009-0002-Helmstädter_1P
Type: review-article
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD
J Med Food 13 (2) 2010, 1–4
# Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
DOI: 10.1089=jmf.2009.0002

Beans and Diabetes—Phaseolus vulgaris Preparations

as Antihyperglycemic Agents
Axel Helmstädter
Institute for the History of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany

ABSTRACT Bean pods (Phaseolus vulgaris) are among the most widely used traditional remedies against diabetes
mellitus. Historical knowledge is summarized and compared to recent study results. Reports dating from the first half of the
20th century as well as recent publications show contradictory results. It seems that Phaseolus preparations should not be
considered the first choice in phytopharmaceutical treatment of diabetes or lead structure research. To be effective, fairly high
doses of aqueous extracts need to be given. Because of their fiber content and an a-amylase inhibitory effect, beans might be
more useful as food components in preventing or ameliorating type 2 diabetes.

KEY WORDS:  antihyperglycemic agents  glukokinin  traditional medicine

INTRODUCTION which has long been recommended for its glucose-lowering

A lmost a thousand medicinal plants are described as
antidiabetic agents, and most of them have been used in
traditional medicine for a long time.1,2 Some species have
been scientifically investigated in detail during the 20th
century, and today there is still considerable interest in an-
tidiabetic activity of plants and their components.
Investigating experiences of traditional use and early
scientific studies about antidiabetic plants it seems reason-
able to start with those most often used. A survey of diabetes
therapy practice prior to the discovery of insulin showed that
Syzygium cumini (syn. Syzygium jambolanum, Eugenia
jambolana), Vaccinium myrtillus, and Phaseolus sp. were
the most widely used antidiabetic agents of plant origin
around 1900.3 S. cumini, native in the West Indies and Java,
was introduced in Europe in the 1880s and was soon in-
vestigated extensively. So approximately 100 clinical case
reports and animal studies were published before the dis-
covery of insulin, and the plant has later been subject of
intensive research leading to more than 50 similar studies
published between 1945 and 2007, which have recently been
reviewed.4 Syzygium fruits have sometimes been used as
food, while from Vaccinium, leaf extracts were medicinally
used instead of blueberries. Beans, however, are widely used
as a legume all over the world. Thus, studies of the antidi-
abetic potential of Phaseolus vulgaris shall be summarized
here and compared with recent research about the plant,
Manuscript received 1 January 2009. Revision accepted 3 June 2009.
Address correspondence to: Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. nat. Axel Helmstädter, Institute for the
History of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Philipps-University, Roter Graben 10,
D-35032 Marburg, Germany, E-mail: axel.helmstaedter@staff.uni-marburg.de
potential.5
HISTORICAL STUDIES
Early reports date back to the pre-insulin era, when, for
example, in 1908, Martin Kaufmann, collaborator of the
famous diabetologist Carl von Noorden (1858–1944) in
Frankfurt=Main, Germany, described Phaseolus prepara-
tions in a review of oral drugs with supposed antidiabetic
activity. He described three case studies where bean pod tea
had no effect on glucosuria; therefore the preparation was
regarded as useless.6
Beans and other vegetables were also mentioned by the
insulin investigator James Bertram Collip (1892–1965) in an
article published in 1923,7 where he mainly described ex-
periments with different clam and yeast extracts (page 525).
All preparations were, quite surprisingly, subcutaneously
injected into rabbits. The alcoholic extract of ‘‘bean greens’’
led, after an initial rise, to a reduction of blood sugar values
by about 20% after 12 hours. The effect lasted for about 36
hours while the rabbits received only water but no food.
Prof. E. Kaufmann from the University of Cologne, Co-
logne, Germany, also investigated potential insulin sub-
titutes of plant origin in the 1920s and published a series of
articles about ‘‘insulin-like plant extracts.’’ Part 2 of these
studies dealt with hot aqueous extracts of P. vulgaris (or
Phaseolus multiflorum), in other words, bean pod tea.
Kaufmann also injected aqueous and ethanolic extracts in-
travenously to rabbits. He saw a moderate hypoglycemic
effect in normal animals and a mitigation of hyperglycemia
after glucose injection. In a clinical study, patients received 1
cup of bean pod tea in the morning. Their blood sugar values
dropped by about 10% within 4 hours. Kaufmann also saw

1
JMF-2009-0002-Helmstadter_1P.3D 12/30/09 5:38pm Page 2

2 HELMSTÄDTER

improvements in glucosuria and glucose tolerance after ad- RECENT STUDIES

ministration of the tea for a period of up to several weeks. He
Scientific interest in the antidiabetic potential of bean pods
compared the effect with that of 3–5 units of insulin.8
never vanished completely and even was raised in the past
Gessner and Siebert, working in the Pharmacological In-
decade. Results of recent studies are, as historical investi-
stitute of Marburg University, Marburg, Germany, studied
gations were, inconsistent. In 1991, Mexican investigators
the effect of homemade and commercial aqueous-alcoholic
found considerable antihyperglycemic effects of a Phaseolus
Phaseolus extracts when administered orally to 38 rabbits.
preparation. In a glucose tolerance test in rabbits, an aqueous
Blood sugar values dropped by about 20–40 mg%.9 Eisler
Phaseolus extract prepared from 132 g of dried plant=L of
and Portheim in Vienna, Austria, investigated the effect of
water and given in a dose of 4 mL=kg led to a decrease in the
alcoholic Phaseolus extracts on carbohydrate-cleaving en-
area under the glucose tolerance curve by 18.5%, whereas
zymes and found some inhibitory effects.10 Gohr and Hil-
with tolbutamide only a 14.3% reduction was achieved.
genberg at Bonn University, Bonn, Germany, tested the
However, seven medicinal plants used in Mexican ethno-
same commercial extract as Gessner and Siebert (Phaseo-
pharmacology showed even better results than did Phaseo-
lanum fluidum Tosse) after oral administration to dogs. The
lus.19 A very similar study was published by the same group
results were disappointing in normoglycemic animals; some
in 1995; again, a decoction of Phaseolus pods (132 g=L)
effect was, however, seen in hyperglycemic dogs, in which
when administered orally to rabbits in a dose of 4 mL=kg
intensity and duration of hyperglycemia were reduced.11
showed decreases in blood glucose levels significantly dif-
This extract was also used by Gebhardt in Leipzig, Germany,
ferent from control and comparable to tolbutamide.20 In
and characterized as a dark brown-colored liquid derived
2003, Pari and Venkateswaran21 found that the glucose-
from bean pods. One gram of extract was said to be equiv-
lowering effect of a hot aqueous extract of P. vulgaris
alent to 1 g of drug; suggested ingredients were a long-chain
(200 mg=kg) exceeded that of glibenclamide in rats made
primary alcohol called ‘‘phasol’’ and a globulin called
diabetic by streptozotocin. The authors confirmed their re-
‘‘phaseolin.’’ Seventeen starving rabbits received different
sults in a similar, additional study, finding a decrease in
doses of extract; 10 showed a reduction in blood sugar levels
blood glucose and an increase in insulin levels comparable to
by 20–40 mg%, whereas the others remained unaffected. No
that after glibenclamide.22 In contrast to that, Neef et al.23
effect at all was seen in rabbits after glucose loading. Five
could not find any effect of an aquoeus Phaseolus extract
diabetes patients did not improve in the clinical part of
(prepared from 15 g of powdered pods in 300 mL of water) in
Gebhardt’s study. The author therefore considered Phaseo-
an oral glucose tolerance test in mice when given in a dose of
lus extract not to be a convincing therapeutic agent.12 Con-
25 g of extract=kg. A clinical investigation in healthy vol-
tradictory results were also reported by Hartleb in Breslau,
unteers in 2006 did not reveal any positive effects on glucose
Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland): Phaseolus extract did not
tolerance as well but assumed that contents of chromium,
influence blood sugar levels of healthy volunteers, but some
soluble fiber, and vitamin C might exert some beneficial
diabetes patients showed an effect that was, however, not
effect.24
confirmed in other cases. All patients tolerated the drug very
well. It was therefore concluded that the extract might be
tried in diabetes patients but that effects were not predict- MECHANISTIC CONSIDERATIONS
able.13 In contrast to Gebhardt, Lapp from the University of From authors of successful studies, it has been suggested
Vienna stated that bean pod tea reduced blood sugar of that the antioxidant potential of bean pod ingredients might,
healthy people, but not in diabetes patients.14 This confusion at least in part, be responsible for the beneficial effects.21,25
had already been seen by Kaufmann, who discussed con- Other suggestions include a contribution of soyasaponin V
tradictions in clinical case studies done with Phaseolus in present in P. vulgaris, which has a known lipoxygenase ac-
1928, after having observed a sudden lack of effiency in tivity.26 Recently it was shown that P. vulgaris pericarp, as
patients initially treated succesfully. He implicated differ- well as its dry extract, inhibits a-amylase by 45–75%; in this
ences in drug material and extract composition, which was study, the effect was only exceeded by that of acarbose,
not standardized that time. After experimental comparison Tamarindus indica, and Vaccinium myrtillus leaves (inhibi-
of two different materials he suggested that extracts should tion >75%).27 This observation coincides well with the
be prepared from unripe fruits to produce the effects initially recommendation to ingest relatively large quantities of le-
observed.15 gumes and vegetables known to be rich in soluble fibers and
Considering all this, it has to be concluded that the anti- phenolic phytochemicals to control glucose absorption.28,29
diabetic potential of Phaseolus extracts is at least uncertain, P. vulgaris is, in contrast to several plants traditionally used
as is that of some other vegetables investigated in the 1920s, against diabetes, not an activator of the human peroxisome
like peas or lentils.16 The literature review, however, shows proliferator-activated receptor and does therefore not im-
that the search for an antidiabetic principle therein was a prove insulin resistance.30
intense subject of worldwide research right after the dis-
covery of insulin, while some researchers like Bertram in
DISCUSSION
Hamburg, Germany, early declared that the search for an oral
hypoglycemic agent of plant origin has failed.17 Others were The perspective to find a blood glucose-lowering agent in
more optimistic.18 the plant kingdom has been fascinating scientists for almost
JMF-2009-0002-Helmstadter_1P.3D 12/30/09 5:38pm
BEANS AND DIABETES
100 years. This paradigm has first been formulated by the
discoverers of insulin. Banting, Best, Macleod, and in par-
ticular Collip were convinced of being able to identify an
insulin-like substance in lower organisms, like clam, yeasts,
and plant tissue, and spent a great deal of research efforts on
this subject in the early 1920s.31 In 1923 Collip even an-
nounced the discovery of a ‘‘new hormone’’ named ‘‘glu-
cokinin’’ present in yeast, onions, barley roots, sprouted
grains, green wheat leaves, bean tops, and lettuce and being
‘‘probably universally present in plant tissue.’’32,33 An en-
thusiastically sounding publication summarized the experi-
mental results and gave the rationale behind this kind of
research: ‘‘As the power of the liver to form glycogen is so
intimately associated with the presence of the pancreatic
hormone in the circulation it seems obvious to predict that
wherever glycogen occurs a hormone similar to, if not
identical with, that produced by the islet cells of the pancreas
will be found.’’7 Collip started his, in the first step successful,
experiments with yeasts but soon extended his research to
all the plant species mentioned above. This attempt might
explain why, in the beginning, plant extracts were in-
travenuously injected. The existence of a insulin-like hor-
mone in plants is still under discussion today, as has recently
been stated by Xavier-Filho et al.,34 who ‘‘are convinced of
the presence of insulin in plants’’ relying on molecular bi-
ology and genetic studies.
Besides that, another strong impact for research was the
desire to replace insulin injections with an orally active an-
tihyperglycemic agent,35 a strategy that may lead to vegetable
antidiabetic preparations and to determine lead compounds of
plant origin that can further be developed to modern active
agents. In this context one should remember that the devel-
opment of biguanide antidiabetics has some roots in plant
research. Galegin, a guanidine derivative derived from Ga-
lega officinalis (goat’s rue) seeds, has been investigated as an
antihyperglycemic agent in 1927.36,37 The plant is almost
ubiquitously spread over Southern England.38 However, it
soon became evident that diguanides were more effective and
were marketed as synthalin A and B. Also in the 1920s, the
development of synthetic biguanidines began. Initially for-
gotten, biguanides were rediscovered in the 1950s, when,
among others, metformin was tested, which is still state-of-
the-art therapy of type 2 diabetes.
It is interesting to note that antidiabetic lead compounds
have been isolated from Syzygium by Sanofi-Aventis (Paris,
France) but obviously not investigated further.39
In general, a historical survey can reveal some important
information to guide lead structure research, to design ani-
mal and clinical studies, to avoid repetition of identical
experiments, and to estimate effectiveness of a traditional
treatment. Furthermore, safety issues are concerned, as
phytomedical preparations have been usually been used for
a very long time, and side effects not known today may have
been documented in historical literature. Of course, the
value of historial study results is limited because of weak-
nesses in experimental design and documentation in former
times, but keeping their previous results in mind while
conducting recent research may nevertheless be of benefit.
Page 3
3
P. vulgaris belongs to the most widely used traditional
remedies said to be antidiabetic and has therefore been
discussed here.
The analysis shows that the traditionally used prepara-
tions are aqueous extracts of bean pods in different con-
centrations. These preparations were ususally tolerated very
well, at least after oral administration. But overall, results
regarding glucose-lowering efficacy were contradictory, and
no clear trend towards effectiveness can be seen. This is also
the case for studies done in the last decade, with the ex-
ception of the work of Pari and Venkateswaran,21 who de-
scribed effects comparable to those of glibenclamide; they
administered, however, very high doses of a quite concen-
trated extract.
So it has to be concluded that there is only a weak ra-
tionale behind the traditional use of Phaseolus as an anti-
diabetic agent, and the plant should also not be the first
choice in searching for new lead structures for oral antidi-
abetic agents, which have already been found in G. offici-
nalis or S. cumini. If clinical studies are conducted, fairly
high doses should be considered. Phaseolus seems to have a
better potential as food component than a remedy in pre-
venting development and progress of type 2 diabetes, which
is strongly supported by the a-amylase inhibitory effects and
the fiber content of this plant.
AUTHOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
No conflicts of interest are declared.
REFERENCES
1. Atta-Ur-Rahman, Zaman K: Medicinal plants with hypoglycemic
activity. J Ethnopharmacol 1989;26:1–55.
2. Bailey CJ, Day C: Traditional plant medicines as treatments for
diabetes. Diabetes Care 1989;12:553–564.
3. Helmstädter A: Antidiabetic drugs used in Europe prior to the
discovery of insulin. Pharmazie 2007;62:717–720.
4. Helmstädter A: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae) against
diabetes—125 years of research. Pharmazie 2008;63:91–101.
5. Elllingwood F: Ellingwood’s Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908. http:==www
.henriettesherbal.com=eclectic=journals=elth1908=10-phaseolus.
html (accessed November 29, 2008).
6. Kaufmann M: Ueber die Einwirkung von Medicamenten auf die
Glukosurie der Diabetiker. Z Klin Med 1908;48:260–289, 436–
490.
7. Collip JB: Glucokinin. A new hormone present in plant tissue.
Preliminary paper. J Biol Chem 1923;56:513–543.
8. Kaufmann E: Insulinartige Pflanzenextrakte. II. Mitteilung. Die
Behandlung des Diabetes mit Bohnenschalentee. Z Ges Exp Med
1927;55:1–12.
9. Geßner O, Siebert K: Ueber die blutzuckersenkende Wirkung
von Phaseoluspräparaten (Decoctum Phaseoli sine semine und
Phaseolanum fluidum ‘‘Tosse’’). Münch Med Wochenschr 1928;
75:853–855.
10. Eisler M; Portheim I: Über insulinartige Stoffe aus Bohnen und
deren Wirkung auf den Kohlehydratstoffwechsel. Biochem Z
1928;148:566–572.
11. Gohr H, Hilgenberg L: Tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen über
die blutzuckersenkende Wirkung des vinum fluidum ‘‘Tosse’’ mit
 JMF-2009-0002-Helmstadter_1P.3D 12/30/09 5:38pm
4 HELMSTÄDTER
besonderer Berücksichtigung der Organanalyse. Arch Exp Pathol
Pharmakol 1929;143:269–282.
12. Gebhardt F: Über Phaseolan. Z Ges Exp Med 1930;70:397–
402.
13. Hartleb HO: Experimentelle und klinische Untersuchungen zur
Frage der peroralen Diabetesbehandlung mit insulinähnlichen
pflanzlichen Stoffen (Phaseolan). Münch Med Wochenschr 1932;
79:1795–1797.
14. Lapp FW: Wert der Insulin- und Kohlehydratersatzmittel in der
Diabetestherapie. Ther Gegenwart 1937;78:195–199.
15. Kaufmann E: Insulinartige Pflanzenextrakte. III. Mitteilung.
Weiteres über die Wirkung des Bohnenschalentees (Phaseolin). Z
Ges Exp Med 1928;60:285–288.
16. Kaufmann E: Insulinersatzmittel. V. Mitteilung. Über blutzuck-
ersenkende Stoffe in Cerealien und Leguminosen. Z Ges Exp
Med 1928;62:147–153.
17. Bertram F: Über die medikamentöse Behandlung des Diabetes
mellitus (mit Ausschluss der parenteralen Insulintherapie). Klin
Wochenschr 1928;7:1209–1214.
18. Labbé H: The vegetable insulinoids and their therapeutic indi-
cations. Can Med Assoc J 1936;34:141–144.
19. Román-Ramos R, Flores-Sáenz JL, Partida-Hernández G, Lara-
Lemus A, Alarcón-Aguilar F: Experimental study of the hypo-
glycemic effect of some edible plants. Arch Invest Med (Mex)
1991;22:87–93.
20. Román-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Alarcon-Aguilar F: Anti-
hyperglycemic effect of some edible plants. J Ethnopharmacol
1995;48:25–32.
21. Pari L, Venkateswaran S: Effect of an aqueous extract of Pha-
seolus vulgaris on plasma insulin and hepatic key enzymes of
glucose metabolism in experimental diabetes. Pharmazie 2003;
58:916–919.
22. Pari L, Venkateswaran S: Protective role of Phaseolus vulgaris
on changes in the fatty acid composition in experimental diabetes.
J Med Food 2004;7:2014–209.
23. Neef H, Declercq P, Laekeman G: Hypoglycemic activity of
selected European plants. Phytother Res 1995;9:45–48.
24. Cerović A, Miletić I, Konić-Ristić A, Baralić I, Djordjević B,
Djuricić I, Radusinović M: The dry plant extract of common
bean seed (Phaseoli vulgari pericarpium) does not have an affect
on postprandial glycemia in healthy human subject. Bosn J Basic
Med Sci 2006;6(3):28–33.
View publication stats
Page 4
25. Venkateswaran S, Pari L: Antioxidant effect of Phaseolus vul-
garis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr
2002;11:206–209.
26. Tan GY, Li XJ, Zhang HY: Antidiabetic components in vege-
tables and legumes. Molecules 2008;13:1189–1194.
27. Melzig MF, Funke I: Pflanzliche alpha-Amylasehemmer—eine
Möglichkeit zur Phytotherapie bei Diabetes mellitus Typ II?
Wien Med Wochenschr 2007;157:320–324.
28. Venn BJ, Mann JI: Cereal grains, legumes and diabetes. Eur J
Clin Nutr 2004;58:1443–1446.
29. Kwon YI, Apostolidis E, Kim YC, Shetty K: Health benefits of
traditional corn, beans, and pumpkin: in vitro studies for hyper-
glycemia and hypertension management. J Med Food 2007;10:
266–275.
30. Rau O, Wurglics M, Dingermann T, Abdel-Tawab M, Schubert-
Zsilavecz M: Screening of herbal extracts for activation of the
human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Pharmazie
2006;61:952–956.
31. Best CH, Scott DA: Possible sources of insulin. J Metab Res
1923;3:177–179.
32. Bliss M: The Discovery of Insulin. Faber and Faber, London,
1982, p. 183.
33. Li A: J.B. Collip and the Development of Medical Research in
Canada. Extracts and Enterprise, Montreal, 2003, pp. 38–40.
34. Xavier-Filho J, Oliveira AEA, Belarmindo da Silva L, Azevedo
CR, Venâncio TM, Machado OLT, Oliva ML, Fernandes KVS,
Xavier-Neto J: Plant insulin or glucokinin: a conflicting issue.
Braz J Plant Physiol 2003;15:67–78.
35. Lewis JJ: Diabetes and the insulin-administration problem.
Physiol Rev 1949;29:75–89.
36. Otten JH: Die Geschichte der oralen Diabetestherapie [medical
dissertation]. University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, 1966, p. 47.
37. Bailey CJ, Day C: Metformin: its botanical background. Pract
Diabetes Int 2004;21:115–117.
38. Hadden DR: Goats’s rue—French lilac—Italian fitch—Spanish
sainfoin: Galea officinalis and metformin: the Edinburgh con-
nection. J R Coll Phys Edinb 2005;35:258–260.
39. Ratsimamanga RA, Ratsimamanga SR, Rasoanaivo P, Leboul J,
Provost J, Freisdorf D: Mischungen ausgehend von Eugenia
jambolana Lamarck Samen, Herstellung und Verwendung sol-
cher Mischungen sowie einiger Inhaltsstoffe als Medikamente.
EU Patent 0879 058 B1 (DE 697 05 108 T2). February 6, 1996.