Biological assessment and phytochemical investigation of commercial bean varieties by NMR and LC-ESI-HR-MS analysis

The common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a major dietary source of protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids [ 1 ]. The polar lipid profile and polyphenolic content of five bean varieties that are often consumed in Italy (Cannellino (PVCA), Controne (PVCO), Borlotti (PVBO), Stregoni (PVST), and Vellutina (PVVE)) were examined in this study using a metabolomic approach combining NMR and LC-MS analysis. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and MS/MS fragmentation, along with database searches and literature references on P. vulgaris , a total of 33 polar lipids, such as fatty acids, phospholipids, oxylipins, and N-acyl glycerolipid and 27 polyphenolic metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, catechins, anthocyanins, and saponins, were identified. The beans’ mineral content was also assesed. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the extracts revealed significant compositional differences, particularly for PVBO. Given the wide range of bioactive metabolites identified, the in vitro inhibitory activity of the seed extracts against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was performed. Among all, PVCO exhibited the strongest COX-2 inhibition, with an IC 50 value of 31.15±2.16 μg/mL. Based on these findings, PVCO’s anti-inflammatory potential was further evaluated in LPS-stimulated murine macrophage cells. At a concentration of 30 μg/mL, PVCO significantly reduced TNF-α release, although its effect on IL-6 secretion was less pronounced. In conclusion, this is the first study to report PVCO’s potential anti-inflammatory properties, and it demonstrates how LC-MS and NMR may work together to offer thorough insights into food composition, assisting efforts to preserve food biodiversity and track the origin of agricultural products [ 2 ] [ 3 ]. This work was supported by PRIN PNRR 2022 “P2022MWY3P – “Old but Gold! Identification of molecular platforms for age-associated diseases to promote healthy and active aging”, CUP H53D23007960001, missione 4 “Istruzione e ricerca” Componente 2 “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” – investimento 1.1 del Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) finanziato dall’Unione Europea “Next Generation EU” Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany