UN SDG
Call for SR&TD Project Grants - 2017
€238.038,30
Anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of a protein isolated from Lupinus seeds and its application as functional foods
Ana Isabel Gusmão Lima
Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Agricultural Biotechnology

Other Engineering and Technologies
No items to show...
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP), particularly gelatinase MMP-9 are proteinases highly involved in cancer and pre-cancer inflammatory processes. Although studies strongly relate MMP-9 inhibition to clinical reduction of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs) are few, they already suggest that ingestion of MMP-9 inhibitors (MMPIs) can decrease their incidence. Hence, the resource to suitable MMP-9 inhibitor functional foods is quickly becoming a powerful effective strategy for managing IBD-related symptoms, and is predicted to have an important social and economic impact in the near future. Since IBDs are related to pre-cancer stages, such a food-based strategy may be one of the most valid, easy and cost-effective alternatives to prevent cancer incidence in the future. However, targeting MMP-9 through food has been difficult, mostly because of lack of specificity and the lack of resistance to the digestion process.
We have recently identified a promising small protein isolated from a legume species, with an outstandingly potent specific MMP-9 inhibitory activity. This protein is a novel type of MMPI that is edible, proteinaceous in nature, survives the digestion process and may be used as a nutraceutical or as a functional food ingredient. Our major goal shall be to understand its mode of action and to ascertain if it can be used as nutraceutical/functional food ingredient for gut inflammation and colon cancer. The efficiency will be aimed towards a realistic diet approach, both curative as well as preventive. Using a multidisciplinary approach, and a network of on-going collaborations, our main goals will be:
a) establishment of a clean extraction method to isolate this protein from selected edible seeds, that is compatible with nutrition and health, and allows scaling-up;
b) understand dose-response effects and identify molecular targets of the protein in cultured colon cancer cells, using enzymatic and genetic expression approaches;
c) produce food products such as cookies (with and without gluten) and puddings, containing enough bioactive protein to exert the desired beneficial effects in dietary intakes;
d) assess the digestibility,  bioavailability and potential allergenicity from the isolated protein and from the developed food products;
e) test their efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation such as colits and enteritis.
As a future outcome, we aim to implement clinical trials with the produced food products for IBD treatment in high risk groups, and to develop a protein supplement with this protein to be administered to colitis and colon cancer-related patients. If success is achieved, an attempted commercial exploitation will be undertaken.
Lupinus seedsMMP-9inflammatory bowel diseasesfunctional foods