Mechanism of antihypertensive and hypocholesterolemic effect of white lupine (Lupinus albus L.): A review

Lupine is a legume that is the main source of plant-derived protein in human nutrition. The high protein content of the lupine seed is a foundation of bioactive peptides. The biological actions of lupine protein and peptides include hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects. Lupinus albus L. seeds induce vasorelaxation by stimulating the endothelial nitric oxide synthase-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway and directly inhibiting voltage-dependent calcium channels. By acting on the renin-angiotensin system, blood pressure is regulated. And, peptides with this potential are called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides. Lupine protein hydrolysate induces complementary cholesterol-lowering effects by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity, the contact between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 and the low-density lipoprotein receptor. This dual influence controls both the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 and the low-density lipoprotein receptor signaling pathways. This facilitates hypocholesterolemic effects of lupine peptides and inhibits the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase leading to upregulation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor protein levels by activation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 pathways. In this article, we attempt to address various health benefits that lupine brings and the mechanistic pathway by which lupine protein takes action.