Vijayaraj_2019_J.Food.Biochem_43_e12774

The consumption of legumes positively correlated with the reduction of body weight. In the present study, we identified and evaluated pancreatic lipase inhibitors from Vigna unguiculata and unraveled their mode of inhibition. The highly sensitive fluorometric method was adopted to access the pancreatic lipase activity and the ethanolic extract of Vigna unguiculata showed the maximum inhibition (IC(50) of 15.2 microg/ml). Cyanidin and cyanidin-3-glucoside are the major anthocyanins observed in Vigna unguiculata. The IC(50) value of cyanidin was 28.29 microM which was 6.5-fold higher than the cyanidin-3-glucoside (188.28 microM). We determined an apparent K(i) of 27.28 microM for cyanidin and cyanidin-3-glucoside (88.97 microM) with noncompetitive inhibition. Collectively, these results suggest that the glycosylation of the anthocyanidins significantly reduces lipase inhibition. The noncompetitive inhibition of pancreatic lipase by Vigna unguiculata anthocyanins may exert significant pharmacological activities toward obesity complications by calorie restriction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results of this study emphasize the importance of legumes in our diet to combat obesity-related complications. Consumption of legumes minimizes fat absorption by inhibiting the action of the fat-digesting enzyme.