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Bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus) is in the pea family (Fabaceae) and is a native Mexican vine that produces an edible tuber called jicama or Mexican turnip in English. This study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of bengkuang extracts administered via oral gavage into rats at 4 days post-induction of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetes mellitus. At 14 days post injection (daily) of extracts at 28 and 56 mg/200 g body weight (BW), blood glucose levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) from 277 ± 4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) for the Diabetes Control Group to 182 ± 3 and 99 ± 55 mg/dl, respectively. The latter glucose level was comparable to that in the Antidiabetic Control Group rats (111 ± 63 mg/dl) injected with glibenclamide at 0.09 mg/200 g BW. The diabetes-induced rats also showed signs of cell recovery from diabetic-associated pancreatic tissue damage, supporting the efficacy of bengkuang treatment. According to phytochemical tests, the bengkuang extract contained various metabolites, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids, that may have been responsible for its antidiabetic activity. The results justify further studies on the underlying mechanisms of bengkuang antidiabetic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The conversion of waste, such as discarded jicama (DJ), to value-added starch, offers the possibility of local economic development and sustainability. Methods: To evaluate the feasibility of reducing food waste, starch from discarded jicama (DJS) and commercial jicama (CJS) were obtained by a conventional method to compare whether the use of the discarded product influences the yield and characteristics of the starch obtained. Results: Significant differences in extraction yield were obtained (5.4% for DJS and 8.3% for CJS). Both starches presented a granule size between 1 and 12 μm, a type C diffraction pattern, amylose content around 14%, and a gelatinization temperature of 61 °C; however, there were some differences in properties such as water solubility index (WSI), swelling power (SP), and pasting. WSI and SP are higher for CJS causing a faster gelatinization process than in DJS. Conclusion: The use of discarded jicama as an alternative source of starch is effective since it reduces agricultural waste through second-generation biorefinery. Results showed that the starch obtained from DJS is considered low-amylose starch, which has some characteristics desirable for the food industry. Statement of Novelty: The novelty of our work entitled "Low amylose starch from discarded jicama tubers (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.) and its techno-functional characterization" can be summarized as the discarded jicama has not been studied as a non-conventional source of starch; this study allows establishing the bases for the use of this agro-industrial residue and giving it added value since the starch demand continues to increase. Additionally, discarded jicama starch can be classified as a low-amylose starch, giving it different technofunctional characteristics than most starches from conventional sources such as corn and potatoes, just to name a few. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is a tropical perennial vine plant native to southern Mexico, Southeast Asia, Central America, and Africa. In this study, we analyzed and identified various polyphenolic compounds and isoflavones present in ethanolic P. erosus root extracts and investigated their potential anti-obesity activity as a natural health food resource. The extraction process involved drying the yam bean, followed by extraction with 70% ethanol, evaporation, and freeze-drying. Fractionation was achieved through layer separation using n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol (BuOH), and water. The EtOAc fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity among the experimental groups, with an IC50 value of 531.77 µg/mL for ABTS radical scavenging. In α-glucosidase and lipase inhibition assays, IC50 values were determined to be 873.07 µg/mL and 915.02 µg/mL, respectively. Using HPLC and LC-MS/MS, we detected isoflavone components in P. erosus root extracts, identifying daidzein, genistein, and rotenone among them. Daidzein was the most abundant isoflavone in P. erosus root extracts. To validate the anti-obesity activity in the EtOAc fraction and daidzein, we used 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with MDI (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, insulin) for 8 days. Oil Red O staining experiments demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in lipid content in the EtOAc fraction and daidzein treatment groups. Additionally, we examined the expression pattern of proteins related to the leptin-PPAR-FAS Pathway, revealing a concentration-dependent decrease in obesity-related proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The storage roots of Pachyrhizus erosus (PE) have been traditionally used as a skin whitening agent in Indonesia and are also consumed fresh in many Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand. However, research on the biological activities of PE is limited. Objective: This study aimed to measure the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and to test the anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities of PE extracts. The Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric, the Aluminium chloride colorimetric, the DPPH scavenging, and the Dopachrome assays were used for the experiments. Results: The dichloromethane extract had the highest anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50= 2.08 ± 0.40 mg/mL), total flavonoid content (9.93 ± 0.02 mg QE/g extract), and antioxidant activity (IC50= 40 ± 0.02 µg/mL). The largest total phenolic concentration was found in the 80% ethanol extract, albeit (11.97 ± 0.55 mg GAE/g extract). Conclusion: Based on its remarkable activities, the dichloromethane extract is recommended for future development in skin-lightening products. The study's findings conclude that PE extracts may be used as an alternate source of antioxidants and anti-tyrosinase agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, obese patients represented 13% of the worldwide adult population, and by 2030, they are projected to make up 34%. Obesity is an incommunicable disease, but it can induce many health problems. The groups consisted of a control, a 65% high-fat group, and a 250 mg/kg P. erosus group. Several biomarkers, such as body weight gain, the presence of TC/LDL/HDL in the serum, the weight of fat tissue, and liver weight/morphology, were investigated to define the anti-obesity mechanisms of P. erosus, and the adipogenesis pathway was studied. P. erosus suppressed body weight gain, decreased TC and LDL, prevented fat tissue weight gain, and prevented liver weight gain by blocking lipid droplet accumulation. P. erosus effectively decreased the up-regulated levels of leptin, significantly controlled both C/EBPα and PPARγ levels, and prevented increased FAS expression levels. We concluded that P. erosus effectively controlled obesity by regulating leptin-C/EBPα-PPARγ and FAS and might be a promising AOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing mortality due to hypertension and hypercholesterolemia is directly linked with type-2 diabetes. This shows the lethality of the disease. Reports suggest that the prebiotics along with probiotics help in lowering the effects of type-2 diabetes. Prebiotic like inulin is best known for its anti-diabetic effect. The current study utilizes jicama extract as prebiotic source of inulin along with the bacterial strains with probiotic properties (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium) for treating type-2 diabetes in high-fat diet-induced Drosophila melanogaster model. The high-fat diet-induced Drosophila showed deposition of lipid droplets and formation of micronuclei in the gut. The larva and adult treated with probiotics and synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic- inulin) comparatively reduced the lipid deposition and micronuclei number in the gut. The increased amount of triglyceride in the whole body of the fatty larva and adult indicated the onset of diabetes. The overexpression of insulin-like genes (Dilp 2) and (Dilp 5) confirmed the insulin resistance, whereas the expression was reduced in the larva and adult supplemented with probiotics and synbiotic. The reactive oxygen species level was reduced with the supplementation of probiotics. The weight, larva size, crawling speed and climbing were also altered in high-fat diet-induced Drosophila melanogaster. The study confirmed the effects of probiotics and synbiotic in successfully lowering diabetes in Drosophila. The study also proved the anti-diabetic potential of the probiotics. Further, it was also confirmed that the probiotics work better in the presence of prebiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots and tubers are one of the most important crops that provide food security in West Africa. Thus, Pachyrhisus erosus with its various potentials, is planned to be introduced in Benin to improve the nutritional quality of the population. Prior to that, this study aimed at assessing pests and disease of P. erosus in the agroecological conditions in the central parts of Benin. Conducted at experimental field in Savè during two consecutive years, experiments were laid in a completely randomized block design with 4 replications and three treatments including EC 533 and EC Kew cultivars of P. erosus and cowpea variety named Kpodji-Guèguè. Results showed that the major pests collected from P. erosus namely Ootheca mutabilis, Medythia quaterna, Piezotrachelus varium, Megalurothrips sjostedti and Brevipalpus phoenis were not so far reported in it. Compared to cowpea, pest's infestation and their damages were lower on P. erosus. Infestation severity on leaves and the percentage of perforated green pods ranged from 0.7% to 3% against 0.8% to 88.9% and from 12.5% to 16% against 57.2% to 64% respectively on P. erosus and cowpea. Cercospora disease caused by Cercospora canescens and yam bean leaf blight caused by an unknown fungus were observed. Cercospora disease affected cowpea and P. erosus while yam bean leaf blight affected only P. erosus. This study provides additional data on pests and diseases associated with P. erosus worldwide and alerts farmers regarding their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachyrhizus erosus is a plant that is traditionally used in Asia as a food and herbal medicine. This study examined the impact of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), light-emitting plasma (LEP), and fluorescent lamps (FLs) on the growth, antioxidant properties, and phenolic metabolites of P. erosus. Phenolic compound concentration and composition were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) system. Radical scavenging activity was measured using stable radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. P. erosus antioxidant activity and phenolic compound composition were improved by the application of LEDs and LEP. Blue LED light also produced significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS values than the other LED and fluorescent light treatments. In P. erosus seedlings, dry weight, fresh weight, plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll content were greater under blue LED than under FL light. Furthermore, growth under the blue LED enhanced the epidermal cell length, epidermal cell width, and number of stomata. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic and total flavonoid contents positively correlated in the P. erosus grown under blue LED light condition. Among LED treatments, blue LED produced higher total phenolic compounds, dominated by malonyl daidzin and l-phenylalanine. DPPH assay was highly and significantly correlated with vitexin, salicylic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, l-phenylalanine, daidzein, and daidzin. The present study demonstrated that changes in the growth pattern, antioxidant activity, composition, and metabolite concentration occurred in response to light of different wavelengths in P. erosus seedlings. Thus, LED exposure has the potential to enhance the growth characteristics, metabolite accumulation, and antioxidant properties of P. erosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam bean is legume with tuberous root originated from the semiarid tropics of Central America, and has been widely spread in several regions in Indonesia. Research on characterization of tuber yam bean was conducted in Kendalpayak Research Station (Malang, Indonesia) from May to October 2016. A total of 73 local yam bean cultivars originated from eight provinces were characterized based on their tuber characteristics. The sensory evaluation was also conducted to evaluate the tuber sweetness, fiber intensity, and texture crunchiness. The average tuber weight was 455.2 g/plant, with the average tuber length and width were 10.78 cm and 8.17 cm, respectively. The ratio of tuber length and width was 1.42, indicates that yam bean tuber in Indonesia tend to be in spherical shape. The average tuber water content was 83.87% (wet basis), showed that the water content was quite high. Based on cluster analysis, 74 local cultivars of yam bean were grouped into five clusters. The tuber weight varied among cultivars and become the distinguishing factor between local cultivars. Local variety of yam beans in Indonesia tend to have sweet taste and crunchy texture. So far, the study on characterization of tuber diversity in Indonesian local cultivar of yam bean is still limited. Thus, these results provide important information to optimize the tuber yam utilization as industrial raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatty acid profiles of six seed oils of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family are reported and discussed. These are the seed oils of Centrosema pubescens, Clitoria ternatea, Crotalaria mucronata, Macroptilium lathyroides, Pachyrhizus erosus, and Senna alata. The most common fatty acid in the fatty acid profiles of these oils is linoleic acid with palmitic, stearic, oleic and linolenic acids usually completing the most prominent fatty acids in these species. Long-chain saturated fatty acids were observed in all oils. Centrosema pubescens and Macroptilium lathyroides exhibited the greatest amounts of long-chain saturated fatty acids exceeding the amount of stearic acid in these oils. C. pubescens exhibited slightly more that 6 % C24:0 together with some fatty acids >C25 and M. lathyroides approximately 4 % C22:0 and 3 % C24:0. The results are comparatively discussed to previous data on the fatty acid profiles of Fabaceae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extract of a rotenone-containing plant yam bean, Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban, seeds was tested against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) in a greenhouse to determine its potential as an oviposition deterrent and compared with coumarin and rutin, known as diamondback moth oviposition deterrent compounds, rotenone, and an extract of Peruvian cube root, at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v). Oviposition deterrent index (ODI) was used to determine effects of extracts or compounds in inhibiting oviposition of diamondback moth. Coumarin showed a stronger deterrent effect than the yam bean seed extract with a higher ODI value. On the contrary, rotenone, rutin, and the cube root extract, containing 6.7% (w/w) of rotenone, showed no significant deterrent effects having low or negative ODI values, suggesting that the deterrent effect of the yam bean seed extract is not due to rotenone content of the yam bean seeds. The extract of yam bean seed and coumarin partially deterred the moth from laying eggs on treated leaves in a concentration-dependent manner. The effective concentration for 50% deterrency of coumarin and the yam bean seed extract were 0.11 and 0.83% (w/v), respectively. However, the yam bean seed extract showed a residual deterrent effect on the moth even at 3 d after the treatment and is probably because of its low volatile nature. A long-term deterrency of the yam bean seed extract is an advantage over coumarins. Both the yam bean seed extract and coumarin deterred diamondback moth from laying eggs in total darkness, indicating their nonvisual deterrent effect. This made the extract an effective deterrence to diamondback moth in light and in darkness. To conclude, this study revealed the potential of the crude extract of the yam bean seed to prevent diamondback moth from ovipositing on its plant host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indonesia, Bengkoang (Phacyrhizus erosus) have been used as one of cosmetics especially as sun screening and skin whitening materials. Six active compounds in Bengkoang with antioxidant and skin whitening activities have been isolated, namely daidzein, daidzin, genistin, (8,9)-furanyl-pterocarpan-3-ol, 4-(2-(furane-2-yl)ethyl)-2-methyl-2,5-dihydro-furane-3-carbaldehyde and 2-butoxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-tetrahydrofurane-3,4-diol. According to literatures, the type of their tyrosinase inhibitory activity has not yet reported. The determination of whitening activity of each compound was evaluated by the evaluation of Lineweaver-Burk plot. The result showed that five compounds had competitive inhibitory activity and 8,9-furanyl-pterocarpan-3-ol showed a non-competitive inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jicama ( Pachyrhizus erosus L.) is a root-based legume that has been cultivated in Mexico for centuries. Pectic polysaccharide from de-starched jicama pomace was extracted using an autoclave-assisted process and physicochemically characterized. The extracted polysaccharide (1.0 g L) was used for the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with water-soluble chitosan (WSCh; 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g L). The extraction yield of jicama pectic polysaccharide was 22.8 wt% (dry basis) and infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that it was methoxylated to a small degree. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that this biopolymer was very stable, its weight loss being 51.2% after heating at 479 °C. Anion-exchange chromatography showed it to have a wide and heterogeneous charge density. The yield of the PECs was dependent on the concentration of WSCh used, it being 13.3, 26.7 and 18.3% with WSCh at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g L, respectively. The PECs had higher thermostability compared with WSCh and this confirmed the complex formation between WSCh and jicama polysaccharide. WSCh is a promising polycation able to interact with low-methoxylated pectic polysaccharide from jicama to produce PECs with uses in a wide variety of specialized applications such as food technology and medicine. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry A polyelectrolyte complex was formed as a result of the interaction between pectic polysaccharide from jicama and water-soluble chitosan (20 kg mol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe mosaic with leaf malformation and green vein banding was observed on yam bean in West and Central Java, Indonesia. Virions of the causal virus were flexuous filaments, about 700 nm in length, with a coat protein of 30 kDa. The virus was transmitted by mechanical inoculation and by aphids in a nonpersistent manner. The nucleotide sequence of the coat protein gene had the highest identity with that of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV, genus Potyvirus) isolate VN/BB2-5. Based on demarcation criteria, including the genome sequence and host range, we tentatively designate this isolate as BCMV-IYbn (Indonesian yam bean). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial intraspecies and interspecies communication in the rhizosphere is mediated by diffusible signal molecules. Many Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as autoinducers in the quorum sensing response. While bacterial signalling is well described, the fate of AHLs in contact with plants is much less known. Thus, adsorption, uptake and translocation of N-hexanoyl- (C6-HSL), N-octanoyl- (C8-HSL) and N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) were studied in axenic systems with barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and the legume yam bean ( Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban) as model plants using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and tritium-labelled AHLs. Decreases in AHL concentration due to abiotic adsorption or degradation were tolerable under the experimental conditions. The presence of plants enhanced AHL decline in media depending on the compounds’ lipophilicity, whereby the legume caused stronger AHL decrease than barley. All tested AHLs were traceable in root extracts of both plants. While all AHLs except C10-HSL were detectable in barley shoots, only C6-HSL was found in shoots of yam bean. Furthermore, tritium-labelled AHLs were used to determine short-term uptake kinetics. Chiral separation by GC-MS revealed that both plants discriminated D-AHL stereoisomers to different extents. These results indicate substantial differences in uptake and degradation of different AHLs in the plants tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is an underutilized crop plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. In recent years, the plant received huge attention and was introduced in different countries owing to properties such as a high nutritional content, its nitrogen-fixing abilities, and different biological activities such as its antioxidant, immune modulation, anticancer, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, and antiaging affects, among others. In this review, an attempt has been made to comprehensively compile the biological activities of the plant to provide a panoramic view of the current efforts and further directions, which may lead to the development of pharmacological applications. This information will be helpful in creating interest towards P. erosus and it may be useful in developing the plant for medical applications and/or as a functional food. More than 50 phytochemicals have been reported from the plant, which belong to different chemical classes such as triterpenoids, organic acid, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Numerous biological activities were reported from the plant through in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and human studies. However, well-defined clinical studies are still lacking for the establishment of any biological properties that could be further developed. Suggestions for the further development of P. erosus, according to current knowledge about the different biological properties, has also been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachyrhizus erosus seeds were analysed for proximate composition, minerals, protein fractions, antinutritional factors, and rotenoids. The seeds showed a high content of proteins, lipids, Fe and Ca, in comparison to other legumes. Glutelins constitute the highest protein fraction, followed by globulins. Antinutritional substances detected as tannins, hemagglutinating activity and trypsin inhibitory activity, were in low concentrations. Seeds were also processed to obtain a flour which showed proper characteristics, good in vitro digestibility, significant rotenoid reduction level and amino acid composition rich in essential amino acids, except methionine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus Rich. Ex DC.) is an underutilized leguminous crop which has been used as a food source across central America and Asia. It is adapted to a range of environments and is closely related to major leguminous food crops, offering the potential to understand the genetic basis of environmental adaptation, and it may be used as a source of novel genes and alleles for the improvement of other legumes. Here, we assembled a draft genome of P. erosus of 460 Mbp in size containing 37,886 gene models. We used this assembly to compare three cultivars each of P. erosus and the closely related P. tuberosus and identified 10,187,899 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The SNP distribution reflects the geographic origin and morphology of the individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]