Gerlie L. Racca
Saint Louis University, Bonifacio St., Baguio City, Philippines
Abstract
Rice bean (Vigna umbellata) is an underutilized legume rich in bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and saponins. These compounds exhibit potential anticancer properties through mechanisms such as ROS modulation, apoptosis induction, and membrane disruption. This study aims to systematically review the anticancer effects of rice bean bioactive components on various cancer cell lines, elucidate their molecular pathways, and identify research gaps. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review included 25 studies, that demonstrated that rice bean bioactives can induce apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis, and disrupt cell membranes in cancer cell lines such as MCF-7 (breast), A549 (lung), and HepG2 (liver). However, limitations include a lack of in vivo and clinical studies, and inconsistencies in compound extraction. Further research, particularly in vivo and clinical trials, is necessary to translate these promising in vitro findings into effective cancer therapies.
Keywords: Rice beans, Vigna umbellata, bioactive compounds, cancer cell lines
