Potential Applications of Food Derived Bioactive Peptides in Management of Health

Recently the rise in noncommunicable diseases and side effects of drugs has promoted the research in food components with biologically active molecules. These bioactive components are vital in reducing and regulating the onset of such chronic degenerative diseases. Many food derived peptides are biologically active fragments encrypted within the primary protein sequence in nascent (inactive) form, hence also called ‘cryptides’. These bioactive peptides range in size from 2 to 50 amino acids. They function beyond their basic nutritional benefits. Upon oral administration, these peptides play various roles such as opiate like, antioxidative, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, mineral binding, antiobesity and antimicrobial. Both animal and plant proteins are rich sources of bioactive peptides having specific physiological and biochemical functions. Digestion of proteins in vivo or in vitro produces free amino acids and peptides which enter circulatory system and exert systemic effect. Bioactive peptides can be produced in vivo through gastrointestinal digestion whereas in vitro through chemical processing of food proteins with acid, alkali, heat and enzymatic hydrolysis either by digestion or fermentation. Protein hydrolysates being rich source of bioactive peptides can serve as an alternative to intact protein and elemental formula in the development of functional foods.     

In silico analysis of the large and small subunits of cereal RuBisCO as precursors of cryptic bioactive peptides

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) is a plant metabolic enzyme and the most abundant protein on earth, but remains largely underutilized in the food system. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to evaluate the prospects of RuBisCO from widely cultivated cereals (rice, barley, wheat, oat, sorghum, corn) as sources of bioactive peptides, and results were compared to commonly consumed proteins. The large and small RuBisCO subunits were found to contain several bioactive peptides with biological functions relevant to the management and treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, specifically inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, antioxidative property and activation of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Due to high sequence homology, there was negligible difference in occurrence frequency of bioactive peptides within large RuBisCO subunits unlike small subunits, which produced more diverse profiles of bioactive peptides among the cereals. The cereal RuBisCO displayed similar or better prospects as other food proteins except milk proteins, thereby providing cheaper and sustainable precursors of bioactive peptides. Simulated enzymatic hydrolysis of RuBisCO subunits indicated that thermolysin and papain had preferred cleavage patterns for releasing the cryptic peptides compared to gastrointestinal proteases. These findings will contribute towards utilization of RuBisCO as alternative sources of peptide-based nutraceuticals for human health promotion.     

Small peptides derived from somatotropin domain-containing proteins inhibit blood and lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation, migration, adhesion and tube formation

Angiogenesis is thoroughly balanced and regulated in health; however, it is dysregulated in many diseases including cancer, age-related macular degeneration, cardiovascular diseases such as coronary and peripheral artery diseases and stroke, abnormal embryonic development, and abnormal wound healing. In addition to angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis is pivotal for maintaining the immune system, homeostasis of body fluids and lymphoid organs; dysregulated lymphangiogenesis may cause inflammatory diseases and lymph node mediated tumor metastasis. Anti-angiogenic or anti-lymphangiogenic small peptides may play an important role as therapeutic agents normalizing angiogenesis or lymphangiogenesis in disease conditions. Several novel endogenous peptides derived from proteins containing a conserved somatotropin domain have been previously identified with the help of our bioinformatics-based methodology. These somatotropin peptides were screened for inhibition of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis using in vitro proliferation, migration, adhesion and tube formation assays with blood and lymphatic endothelial cells. We found that the peptides have the potential for inhibiting both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Focusing the study on the inhibition of lymphangiogenesis, we found that a peptide derived from the somatotropin conserved domain of transmembrane protein 45A human was the most potent lymphangiogenesis inhibitor, blocking lymphatic endothelial cell migration, adhesion, and tube formation.     

生物肽降压作用机制及定量构效关系的研究

高血压是心脑血管疾病的首要危险因素,严重威胁着人类的生命健康。生物肽能有效预防和治疗高血压,并且具有安全可靠、作用多靶点等特点。大量的研究表明生物肽存在多种降压作用机制,深入研究降压机制可为中药治疗高血压提供新思路。本文综述了近年来生物肽潜在的降压机制,并探索其定量构效关系,旨在为中药药效组分的研究以及相关药物设计和筛选提供理论指导。     

普洱茶减肥、降脂机制的探讨

普洱茶(Pu-erhtea)产于云南省南部地区,具有悠久的发展历史和丰富的文化涵蕴,被认为具有减肥、降脂、降血糖、防止心脑血管疾病等代谢性疾病功效。近几年来在人、啮齿类和细胞水平的研究表明,普洱茶的确具有减肥、降脂功效,普洱茶中的茶色素、多糖、多酚和他汀类物质可能通过抑制脂肪合成、促进脂肪氧化分解而发挥其减肥、降脂功效。本文综述了目前关于普洱茶减肥、降脂的生物学功效、活性成分、以及作用机制的相关报道,同时探讨了该领域未来的一些研究方向。     

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: getting to the fat of the matter

The increasing national prevalence of obesity is a major public health concern and a substantial burden on the health care resources of Canada. In addition to the direct health impact of obesity, this condition is a well-established risk factor for the development of various prevalent comorbidities including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Historically, adipose tissue has been regarded primarily as an organ for energy storage. However, the discovery of leptin in the mid 1990's revolutionized our understanding of this tissue and has focused attention on the endocrine function of adipose tissue as a source of secreted bioactive peptides. These compounds, collectively termed adipokines, regulate a number of biological functions including appetite and energy balance, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and inflammation. The physiological importance of adipokines has led to the hypothesis that changes in the synthesis and secretion of these compounds in the obese are a causative factor contributing to the development of obesity and obesity-related diseases in these individuals. Following from this it has been proposed that pharmacologic manipulation of adipokine levels may provide novel effective therapeutic strategies to treat and prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.     

Characterization and production of multifunctional cationic peptides derived from rice proteins

Food proteins have been identified as a source of bioactive peptides. These peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein and must be released during gastrointestinal digestion, fermentation, or food processing. Of bioactive peptides, multifunctional cationic peptides are more useful than other peptides that have specific activity in promotion of health and/or the treatment of diseases. We have identified and characterized cationic peptides from rice enzymes and proteins that possess multiple functions, including antimicrobial, endotoxin-neutralizing, arginine gingipain-inhibitory, and/or angiogenic activities. In particular, we have elucidated the contribution of cationic amino acids (arginine and lysine) in the peptides to their bioactivities. Further, we have discussed the critical parameters, particularly proteinase preparations and fractionation or purification, in the enzymatic hydrolysis process for producing bioactive peptides from food proteins. Using an ampholyte-free isoelectric focusing (autofocusing) technique as a tool for fractionation, we successfully prepared fractions containing cationic peptides with multiple functions.     

The Development of Transgenic Crops to Improve Human Health by Advanced Utilization of Seed Storage Proteins

Seed storage proteins are a major component of mature seeds. They are utilized as protein sources in foods. We designed seed storage proteins containing bioactive peptides based on their three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, to create crops with enhanced food qualities, we developed transgenic crops producing seed storage proteins with bioactive peptides. This strategy promises to prevent lifestyle-related diseases by simple daily food consumption. In this review, we discuss a strategy to develop transgenic crops to improve human health by advanced utilization of seed storage proteins.     

The development of transgenic crops to improve human health by advanced utilization of seed storage proteins

Seed storage proteins are a major component of mature seeds. They are utilized as protein sources in foods. We designed seed storage proteins containing bioactive peptides based on their three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, to create crops with enhanced food qualities, we developed transgenic crops producing seed storage proteins with bioactive peptides. This strategy promises to prevent lifestyle-related diseases by simple daily food consumption. In this review, we discuss a strategy to develop transgenic crops to improve human health by advanced utilization of seed storage proteins.     

酶法制备海洋活性肽及其功能活性研究进展

海洋生物活性肽(Marine biological active peptide)是从海洋生物中提取的具有优化机体代谢环境、有益于机体健康的一类多肽。酶法制备海洋生物活性肽是目前最常用的制备方法,是通过适当的蛋白酶水解海洋生物蛋白来制备生物活性肽的一种方法。海洋生物活性肽在降血压、抗氧化、抗凝血及抗菌等方面效果显著,对治疗和预防疾病具有巨大潜力。介绍海洋生物活性肽在酶解制备及其生物学功能方面国内外研究进展,为进一步开展海洋活性多肽研究提供参考。     

Multifunctional peptides encrypted in milk proteins

Many bioactivities of milk are latent in that they are inactive within the protein sequence, requiring enzymatic proteolysis for release of bioactive peptides from milk proteins precursors. Bioactivities of peptides encrypted in major milk proteins are latent until released and activated, e.g. during gastrointestinal digestion or food processing. Bioactive peptides can be produced in vivo following intake of milk proteins, and the proteolytic system of bacterial species used in the production of fermented milk products and cheese can contribute to the liberation of bioactive peptides or precursors thereof. Activated peptides are potential modulators of various regulatory processes in the living system: immunomodulatory peptides stimulate the activities of cells of the immune system and several cytomodulatory peptides inhibit cancer cell growth, antimicrobial peptides kill sensitive microorganisms, angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides exert an hypotensive effect, opioid peptides are opioid receptor ligands which can modulate absorption processes in the intestinal tract, mineral binding peptides may function as carriers for different minerals, especially calcium. Many milk-derived peptides reveal multifunctional properties, i.e. specific peptide sequences having two or more different biological activities have been reported. Milk protein-derived bioactive peptides are claimed to be health enhancing components that can be used to reduce the risk of disease or to enhance a certain physiological function.     

The antihypertensive effect of peptides: a novel alternative to drugs?

Many types of bioactive peptides that inhibit angiotensin I, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) and Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1) in the cardiovascular system contribute to the prevention and treatment of hypertension. These inhibitory peptides are derived from many food proteins or artificial synthetic products. Further research examining the bioavailability of ACE inhibitory peptides will lead to the development of more effective ACE inhibitory peptides and foods. Our research also demonstrates that ACE inhibitory peptide LAP may lower blood pressure with no adverse effects.     

Biological and Functional Properties of Wedelolactone in Human Chronic Diseases

Medicinal herbs are well known and studied over the past millennia in most of the developing countries as a rational means of treatment against various diseases and disorders. Wedelolactone (WDL), a major bioactive compound in Eclipta prostrata L (Eclipta alba L), has been reported with potential benefits in human health against chronic diseases. However, a comprehensive study on WDL pharmacological benefits in various ailments, to the best of our knowledge, is not yet reported. Thereof, the present review provides the recent therapeutic applications in reference to biological and functional activities against major human chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and androgenetic alopecia. In this study, we collected all the relevant experimental information on WDL from Scientific databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Conclusively, WDL is recognized as a key anti-oxidant with both specific regulator and inhibitor of major drug targetable proteins in human chronic diseases and disorders. Hence, WDL as a novel therapeutic bioactive molecule is advised to explore further for relevant pharmacological activities.     

Beneficial health effects of milk and fermented dairy products — Review

Milk is a complex physiological liquid that simultaneously provides nutrients and bioactive components that facilitate the successful postnatal adaptation of the newborn infant by stimulating cellular growth and digestive maturation, the establishment of symbiotic microflora, and the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues. The number, the potency, and the importance of bioactive compounds in milk and especially in fermented milk products are probably greater than previously thought. They include certain vitamins, specific proteins, bioactive peptides, oligosaccharides, organic (including fatty) acids. Some of them are normal milk components, others emerge during digestive or fermentation processes. Fermented dairy products and probiotic bacteria decrease the absorption of cholesterol. Whey proteins, medium-chain fatty acids and in particular calcium and other minerals may contribute to the beneficial effect of dairy food on body fat and body mass. There has been growing evidence of the role that dairy proteins play in the regulation of satiety, food intake and obesity-related metabolic disorders. Milk proteins, peptides, probiotic lactic acid bacteria, calcium and other minerals can significantly reduce blood pressure. Milk fat contains a number of components having functional properties. Sphingolipids and their active metabolites may exert antimicrobial effects either directly or upon digestion.     

Protein transduction domain delivery of therapeutic macromolecules

Owing to their unprecedented selectivity, specific activity and potential for 1000+ fold amplification of signal, macromolecules, such as peptides, catalytic protein domains, complete proteins, and oligonucleotides, offer great potential as therapeutic molecules. However, therapeutic use of macromolecules is limited by their poor penetration in tissues and their inability to cross the cellular membrane. The discovery of small cationic peptides that cross the membrane, called Protein Transduction Domains (PTDs) or Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs), in the late 1980s opened the door to cellular delivery of large, bioactive molecules. Now, PTDs are widely used as research tools, and impressively, multiple clinical trials are testing PTD-mediated delivery of macromolecular drug conjugates in patients with a variety of diseases.     

Manufacturing of peptides exhibiting biological activity

Numerous studies have shown that food proteins may be a source of bioactive peptides. Those peptides are encrypted in the protein sequence. They stay inactive within the parental protein until release by proteolytic enzymes (Mine and Kovacs-Nolan in Worlds Poult Sci J 62(1):87–95, 2006; Hartman and Miesel in Curr Opin Biotechnol 18:163–169, 2007). Once released the bioactive peptides exhibit several biofunctionalities and may serve therapeutic roles in body systems. Opioid peptides, peptides lowering high blood pressure, inhibiting platelet aggregation as well as being carriers of metal ions and peptides with immunostimulatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities have been described (Hartman and Miesel in Curr Opin Biotechnol 18:163–169, 2007). The biofunctional abilities of the peptides have therefore aroused a lot of scientific, technological and consumer interest with respect to the role of dietary proteins in controlling and influencing health (Möller et al. in Eur J Nutr 47(4):171–182, 2008). Biopeptides may find wide application in food production, the cosmetics industry as well as in the prevention and treatment of various medical conditions. They are manufactured by chemical and biotechnological methods (Marx in Chem Eng News 83(11):17–24. 2005; Hancock and Sahl in Nat Biotechnol 24(12):1551–1557, 2006). Depending on specific needs (food or pharmaceutical industry) different degrees of peptide purifications are required. This paper discusses the practicability of manufacturing bioactive peptides, especially from food proteins.     

Milk derived bioactive peptides and their impact on human health – A review

Milk-derived bioactive peptides have been identified as potential ingredients of health-promoting functional foods. These bioactive peptides are targeted at diet-related chronic diseases especially the non-communicable diseases viz., obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Peptides derived from the milk of cow, goat, sheep, buffalo and camel exert multifunctional properties, including anti-microbial, immune modulatory, anti-oxidant, inhibitory effect on enzymes, anti-thrombotic, and antagonistic activities against various toxic agents. Majority of those regulate immunological, gastrointestinal, hormonal and neurological responses, thereby playing a vital role in the prevention of cancer, osteoporosis, hypertension and other disorders as discussed in this review. For the commercial production of such novel bioactive peptides large scale technologies based on membrane separation and ion exchange chromatography methods have been developed. Separation and identification of those peptides and their pharmacodynamic parameters are necessary to transfer their potent functional properties into food applications. The present review summarizes the preliminary classes of bioactive milk-derived peptides along with their physiological functions, general characteristics and potential applications in health-care.     

Food-derived peptides with biological activity: from research to food applications

Many peptides that are released in vitro or in vivo from animal or plant proteins are bioactive and have regulatory functions in humans beyond normal and adequate nutrition. Different health effects have been attributed to food-derived peptides, including antimicrobial properties, blood pressure-lowering (ACE inhibitory) effects, cholesterol-lowering ability, antithrombotic and antioxidant activities, enhancement of mineral absorption and/or bioavailability, cyto- or immunomodulatory effects, and opioid activities. Numerous products are already on the market or under development by food companies that exploit the potential of food-derived bioactive peptides and which ascribe scientifically evidenced health claims to consumption of these functional foods.     

BIOACTIVE PROTEINS,PEPTIDES, AND AMINO ACIDS FROM MACROALGAE1

Macroalgae are a diverse group of marine organisms that have developed complex and unique metabolic pathways to ensure survival in highly competitive marine environments. As a result, these organisms have been targeted for mining of natural biologically active components. The exploration of marine organisms has revealed numerous bioactive compounds that are proteinaceous in nature. These include proteins, linear peptides, cyclic peptides and depsipeptides, peptide derivatives, amino acids, and amino acid–like components. Furthermore, some species of macroalgae have been shown to contain significant levels of protein. While some protein‐derived bioactive peptides have been characterized from macroalgae, macroalgal proteins currently still represent good candidate raw materials for biofunctional peptide mining. This review will provide an overview of the important bioactive amino‐acid‐containing compounds that have been identified in macroalgae. Moreover, the potential of macroalgal proteins as substrates for the generation of biofunctional peptides for utilization as functional foods to provide specific health benefits will be discussed.     

Studies on the molecular recognition between bioactive peptides and angiotensin-converting enzyme

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition affecting many individuals and represents a controllable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke. A non-pharmacological approach to manage these includes the application of food components with antihypertensive activity. Milk protein-derived peptides have been exploited as natural hypotensive agents, namely the peptides Val-Pro-Pro (VPP) and Ile-Pro-Pro (IPP), already commercialized in functional foods as a potential alternative to synthetic drugs. These bioactive peptides inhibit in vitro and in vivo the Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a protein with an important role in blood pressure regulation. In this work, we attempted to elucidate the possible mode of interaction between the peptides and ACE, including mechanisms of binding to the cofactor Zn2+, and further contrast this with the known mode of inhibition exerted by synthetic drugs (Captopril, Enalaprilat and Lisinopril). The bioactive peptide Ala-Leu-Pro-Met-His-Ile-Arg (ALPMHIR), also known to inhibit the enzyme ACE but with a lower efficiency than VPP and IPP, was utilized in the docking studies for comparison. It was observed that the best docking poses obtained for VPP and IPP were located at the ACE catalytic site with very high resemblance to the drugs mode of interaction, including the coordination with Zn2+. As for ALPMHIR, the best docking poses were located in the narrow ACE channel outside the catalytic site, representing higher affinity energies and fewer resemblances with the interaction established by drugs.