Previous studies showed that germination could improve the antiproliferative effect of
soy protein on
cervical cancer cells and that a
peptide fraction (MAPF) from germinated soybeans decreases the expression of PTTG1 and TOP2A (2 genes considered as therapeutic targets) causing apoptosis of
cancer cells. The aim of this work was to study the effect of feeding germinated
soybean protein diets on the
tumor growth in nude mice inoculated with
cervical cancer cells and identify the bioactive component. Mice were randomly assigned to 1 of the 6 dietary groups based in AIN-93G formulation with 6
protein sources:
casein, ungerminated
soy protein (SP), and SP from 2 and 6 days of germination, with and without
ethanol-soluble
phytochemicals (ESPC). Compared with
casein-fed controls, the
tumor volumes after 5 wk were reduced by 44.6% by ungerminated SP, 98.9% by 2-day-germinated SP, 97.7% by 2-day-germinated SP without ESPC, 94.7% by 6-day-germinated SP, and 92.7% by 6-day-germinated SP without ESPC (P < 0.05). Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis of MAPF showed that the bioactive
peptide might be the leginsulin, a
peptide involved in signal transduction of soybean cells. Germination is a simple procedure that could help to increase the anticancer activity of
soy protein probably through generation of biologically active
peptides.