Core Functions and Efficacy of Adzuki Bean Plant Extract

Adzuki Bean Plant Extract is a plant-derived active ingredient product extracted from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), a legume native to East Asia. Its core functions include antioxidant activity, metabolic regulation, anti-inflammation, and cardiovascular protection.

I. Source

Plant Origin:
Adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), belonging to the Fabaceae family, are indigenous to East Asia and have been cultivated for thousands of years in China, Japan, and Korea. Their seeds (adzuki beans) are rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and lectins, serving as the primary raw material for the extract.

II. Core Functions and Efficacy

1. Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Properties:
Adzuki bean extract contains at least 29 antioxidants (e.g., catechins, gallic acid), which neutralize free radicals, reduce oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, and delay skin aging, wrinkle formation, and age spots.
Animal studies demonstrate significant antioxidant activity, potentially improving metabolic syndrome by modulating gut microbiota.

2. Metabolic Regulation and Weight Management:
The hot-water extract inhibits lipid accumulation in adipocytes (3T3-L1 cells), reducing body weight, adipose tissue mass, and hepatic steatosis (fatty liver risk).
It improves obesity-related inflammation by regulating macrophage polarization (decreasing pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages while increasing anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages).

3. Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects:
Flavonoids (e.g., rutin) in the extract suppress the release of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., NF-κB, TNF-α), alleviating chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Animal experiments indicate its potential to inhibit tumor cell proliferation (e.g., KATO III gastric cancer cells) and chemically induced tumorigenesis.

4. Cardiovascular Protection:
The extract lowers blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL ("bad cholesterol") levels, reducing atherosclerosis risk.
Rich in potassium, it promotes sodium excretion to aid blood pressure regulation; high iron and phosphorus content improves anemia and cold intolerance.

5. Other Potential Effects:

• Melanogenesis Stimulation: Specific fractions activate tyrosinase activity, promoting hair pigmentation, with potential applications in gray hair treatment or cosmetic development.
• Antibacterial Activity: In vitro studies show inhibitory effects against certain bacteria.