Defensins and other biocidal proteins from bean seeds with medicinal activities.

Abstract

It is well known that legumes, especially soybeans, are beneficial to health due to the presence of saponins and an abundance of fiber and proteins. Defensins and other related defense proteins with antifungal activity in legumes act against fungi which are human pathogens and also against phytopathogenic fungi. These proteins exhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory and antitumor activities. Some of these proteins have remarkable stability to proteases, and changes in pH and temperature and are promising therapeutic candidates.