Nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins : a great potential still waiting for full exploitation

This review reports the experimentally demonstrated nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins. Lupin seed is a non-starchy, low-oil, protein- and fibre-rich legume seed, whose techno- and nutri-functional properties still await to be fully explored and exploited. This paper provides a comprehensive and up-dated survey on the bioactivities of lupin proteins and includes results on fibres, too. The described beneficial effects to human body span from plasma glucosedecreasing and hypertension-lowering activities to obesity, satiety and plasma lipid homeostasis controls. The review is intended to provide nutritionists, food scientists and technologists the state-of-art of the knowledge in the field of lupin seed protein oriented utilisation, as well as the nutri-functional reference sources for the best exploitation of this valuable, accessible, wealthy and healthy plant food.