Assessment of Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) Seed Protein Extract

Beans are widely consumed worldwide and are a good source of amino acids and micronutrients; however, they contain anti-nutrients, such as lectins, tannins, protein inhibitors, saponins, and phytic acid, among others, which can reduce the food's quality and cause adverse health effects. In this study, we analyzed the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of a protein extract from Phaseolus acutifolius (TBE) seeds. The extract contained some antinutritional compounds, with a higher lectin content and an activity of 2701.85 HU. The acute toxicity test in mice showed that the extract was not lethal at the concentrations tested, as it did not cause any mortality. The in vitro cytotoxicity study on small intestinal epithelial cells indicated that the lectin-rich extract was cytotoxic in both assays, with IC₅₀ values of 10.08 µg/mL and 108.91 µg/mL for the free cell and intestinal fragment assays, respectively. In the in vivo study, an erythropoiesis-stimulatory effect was observed, with significant genotoxic damage noted at 48 h, evidenced by 11 micronucleated erythrocytes at 1000 mg/kg TBE. However, no genotoxicity was detected with prolonged treatment times. These results indicate that TBE is cytotoxic within the tested concentration range, and genotoxic damage is influenced by both concentration and exposure time.