Simultaneous effect of vacuum and ultrasound assisted enzymatic extraction on the recovery of plant protein and bioactive compounds from sesame bran

Recent progress in plant-based proteins: From extraction and modification methods to applications in the food industry

Plant proteins can meet consumers' demand for healthy and sustainable alternatives to animal proteins. It has been reported to possess numerous health benefits and is widely used in the food industry. However, conventional extraction methods are time-consuming, energy-intensive, as well as environmentally unfriendly. Plant proteins are also limited in application due to off-flavors, allergies, and anti-nutritional factors. Therefore, this paper discusses the challenges and limitations of conventional extraction processes. The current advances in green extraction technologies are also summarized. In addition, methods to improve the nutritional value, bioactivity, functional and organoleptic properties of plant proteins, and strategies to reduce their allergenicity are mentioned. Finally, examples of applications of plant proteins in the food industry are presented. This review aims to stimulate thinking and generate new ideas for future research. It will also provide new ideas and broad perspectives for the application of plant proteins in the food industry.

A comprehensive review on the recent trends in extractions, pretreatments and modifications of plant-based proteins

Plant-based proteins offer sustainable and nutritious alternatives to animal proteins with their techno-functional attributes influencing product quality and designer food development. Due to the inherent complexities of plant proteins, proper extraction and modifications are vital for their effective utilization. This review highlights the emerging sources of plant-based proteins, and the recent statistics of the techniques employed for pretreatment, extraction, and modifications. The pretreatment, extraction and modification approach to modify plant proteins have been classified, addressed, and the recent applications of such methodologies are duly indicated. Furthermore, this study furnishes novel perspectives regarding the potential impacts of emerging technologies on the intricate dynamics of plant proteins. A thorough review of 100 articles (2018-2024) shows the researchers' keen interest in investigating novel plant proteins and how they can be used; seeds being the main source for protein extraction, followed by legumes. Use of by-products as a protein source is increasing rapidly, which is noteworthy. Protein studies still lack knowledge on protein fraction, antinutrients, and pretreatments. The use of physical methods and their combination with other techniques are increasing for effective and environmentally friendly extraction and modification of plant proteins. Several studies explore the effect of protein changes on their function and nutrition, especially with a goal of replacing ingredients with plant proteins that have improved or enhanced qualities. However, the next step is to investigate the sophisticated modification methods for deeper insights into food safety and toxicity.

Cryoprotective role of vacuum infused inulin on the quality of artichoke: Interactive effects of freezing, thawing and storage period

Freezing of artichoke is a promising alternative to storing it in brine and canning. The perishable vegetable was vacuum infused with inulin to improve freezing tolerance. Artichokes with and without inulin were frozen by static, air blast and individual quick freezing (IQF) methods and thawed by microwave, 25 °C and 4 °C temperature levels at each month of 6-months storage. Process conditions were evaluated by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and were found significant on the quality parameters. Inulin infusion better conserved the aw, color, texture, ascorbic acid and overall integrity of artichokes during frozen storage. Inulin incorporation and IQF showed mutual positive effect on drip loss. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity values fitted to 2nd order kinetic and the highest residuals were determined in static freezing. PPO showed alleviating effect on total phenolic content. Vacuum impregnation caused a color difference prior to freezing, but was found effective for maintaining color during storage. As a result, the use of quick freezing techniques together with the addition of cryoprotectant was effective in the preservation of artichoke quality attributes during frozen storage.

Active pullulan-based coatings incorporated with Auricularia auricular extracts for preserving potato fresh-cuts

In the present study, Auricularia auricular polysaccharides (AAP) and Auricularia auricular proteins (AAPR) obtained from the waste products of Auricularia auricular were incorporated into pullulan (PUL) to obtain active packaging films/coatings. Results showed that incorporating AAP/AAPR into PUL-based films decreased their transparency, but increased the compactness, thermal stability, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Adding 2% PUL films with 10%:10% of AAP/AAPR exhibiting good mechanical properties were applied to fresh-cut potatoes to avoid spoilage during eight days of storage, with significantly decreased in browning index, weight loss, microbial growth prevention and the total soluble solids was maintained. These results substantiated that pullulan containing AAP/AAPR as an active film/coating with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties has significant potential for maintaining safety and quality of fresh-cut potatoes and extending their shelf life.

Analyses of phytochemical compounds in the flowers and leaves of Spiraea japonica var. fortunei using UV-VIS, FTIR, and LC-MS techniques

Spiraea japonica var. fortunei has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine and is well-known for its alkaloids. However, there is no adequate study concerning the phenolic compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate phenolic compounds found in the leaves and the flowers of the plant both qualitatively and quantitatively. Extractions were performed either with ethanol or methanol, and methanol has shown better performance than ethanol. The leaves were a better source of phenolic compounds than the flowers. The total phenolic content of the methanol extract of the leaves was 25.64 ± 0.32 mg GAE/g dry matter, and antioxidant activity, as determined with the DPPH method, was 69.76 ± 0.34 %. UV-VIS spectrum and FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds. The phenolic profile was investigated with LC-MS using both negative and positive ionization, and a total of 55 phenolic compounds that are attractive for pharmaceutical and medical applications were observed.

Effects of slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping on the structure, functional properties and antioxidant activity of Lycium barbarum proteins and in situ real-time monitoring process

To improve the protein dissolution rate and the quality of fresh Lycium barbarum pulp (LBP), we optimized the slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping process, explored the dissolution kinetics of Lycium barbarum protein (LBPr), and established a near-infrared spectroscopy in situ real-time monitoring model for LBPr dissolution through spectral information analysis and chemometric methods. The results showed that under optimal conditions (dual-frequency 28-33 kHz, 300 W, 31 min, 40 °C, interval ratio 5:2 s/s), ultrasonic treatment not only significantly increased LBPr dissolution rate (increased by 71.48 %, p < 0.05), improved other nutrient contents and color, but also reduced the protein particle size, changed the amino acid composition ratio and protein structure, and increased the surface hydrophobicity, zeta potential, and free sulfhydryl content of protein, as well as the antioxidant activity of LBPr. In addition, ultrasonication significantly improved the functional properties of the protein, including thermal stability, foaming, emulsification and oil absorption capacity. Furthermore, the real-time monitoring model of the dissolution process was able to quantitatively predict the dissolution rate of LBPr with good calibration and prediction performance (Rc = 0.9835, RMSECV = 2.174, Rp = 0.9841, RMSEP = 1.206). These findings indicated that dual-frequency ultrasound has great potential to improve the quality of LBP and may provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of an intelligent control system in the industrialized production of LBP and the functional development of LBPr.

Design of Experiments for Optimizing Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Plant-Based Sources

Plant-based materials are an important source of bioactive compounds (BC) with interesting industrial applications. Therefore, adequate experimental strategies for maximizing their recovery yield are required. Among all procedures for extracting BC (maceration, Soxhlet, hydro-distillation, pulsed-electric field, enzyme, microwave, high hydrostatic pressure, and supercritical fluids), the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) highlighted as an advanced, cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternative for recovering BC (polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids) from plant sources with higher yields. However, the UAE efficiency is influenced by several factors, including operational variables and extraction process (frequency, amplitude, ultrasonic power, pulse cycle, type of solvent, extraction time, solvent-to-solid ratio, pH, particle size, and temperature) that exert an impact on the molecular structures of targeted molecules, leading to variations in their biological properties. In this context, a diverse design of experiments (DOEs), including full or fractional factorial, Plackett-Burman, Box-Behnken, Central composite, Taguchi, Mixture, D-optimal, and Doehlert have been investigated alone and in combination to optimize the UAE of BC from plant-based materials, using the response surface methodology and mathematical models in a simple or multi-factorial/multi-response approach. The present review summarizes the advantages and limitations of the most common DOEs investigated to optimize the UAE of bioactive compounds from plant-based materials.

Yellow Field Pea Protein (Pisum sativum L.): Extraction Technologies, Functionalities, and Applications

Yellow field peas (Pisum sativum L.) hold significant value for producers, researchers, and ingredient manufacturers due to their wealthy composition of protein, starch, and micronutrients. The protein quality in peas is influenced by both intrinsic factors like amino acid composition and spatial conformations and extrinsic factors including growth and processing conditions. The existing literature substantiates that the structural modulation and optimization of functional, organoleptic, and nutritional attributes of pea proteins can be obtained through a combination of chemical, physical, and enzymatic approaches, resulting in superior protein ingredients. This review underscores recent methodologies in pea protein extraction aimed at enhancing yield and functionality for diverse food systems and also delineates existing research gaps related to mitigating off-flavor issues in pea proteins. A comprehensive examination of conventional dry and wet methods is provided, in conjunction with environmentally friendly approaches like ultrafiltration and enzyme-assisted techniques. Additionally, the innovative application of hydrodynamic cavitation technology in protein extraction is explored, focusing on its prospective role in flavor amelioration. This overview offers a nuanced understanding of the advancements in pea protein extraction methods, catering to the interests of varied stakeholders in the field.

Modifications to structural, techno-functional and rheological properties of sesame protein isolate by high pressure homogenization

In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of high pressure homogenization (HPH) at a pressure up to 150 MPa on microstructural, techno-functional and rheological properties of sesame protein isolate (SPI). HPH treatment caused a partial change in the secondary structure of SPI, however, the changes in surface hydrophobicity and free -SH groups, indicating HPH had significant effect on the tertiary structure. After the HPH treatment, the particles dispersed homogeneously with more rougher surface. Sesame proteins had the smallest particle size (0.79 μm) and highest zeta potential (38.83 mV) at 100 MPa pressure. The most developed water/oil holding capacity, emulsification and foaming properties were achieved at 100 MPa pressure. However, the maximum stable foam formation (83.33 %) was determined at 150 MPa pressure. When the shear rate is fixed as 50 1/s, an increase in the viscosity value of the samples treated with 100 and 150 MPa pressure was detected compared to the control sample, while the lowest viscosity was determined the ones treated at 50 MPa. In all samples except 50 MPa pressure-treated proteins, viscoelastic character became dominant with increasing frequency (G' > G″). Modification with HPH resulted in a decrease of about 15 °C in the gelation temperature of SPI.

Sustainable Isolation of Bioactive Compounds and Proteins from Plant-Based Food (and Byproducts)

Plant-based food produces significantly less greenhouse gases, and due to its wealth of bioactive components and/or plant-based protein, it becomes an alternative in a sustainable food system. However, the processing and production of products from plant sources creates byproducts, which can be waste or a source of useful substances that can be reused. The waste produced during the production and processing of food is essentially nutrient- and energy-rich, and it is recognized as an excellent source of secondary raw materials that could be repurposed in the process of manufacturing and preparing food, or as feed for livestock. This review offers an overview of the sources and techniques of the sustainable isolation of bioactive substances and proteins from various sources that might represent waste in the preparation or production of food of plant origin. The aim is to uncover novel approaches to use waste and byproducts from the process of making food to provide this waste food an additional benefit, not forgetting the expectations of the end user, the consumer. For the successful isolation of bioactive ingredients and proteins from food of plant origin, it is crucial to develop more eco-friendly and efficient extraction techniques with a low CO2 footprint while considering the economic aspects.

Shifting archetype to nature's hidden gems: from sources, purification to uncover the nutritional potential of bioactive peptides

Contemporary scientific findings revealed that our daily food stuffs are enriched by encrypted bioactive peptides (BPs), evolved by peptide linkage of amino acids or encrypted from the native protein structures. Remarkable to these BPs lies in their potential health benefiting biological activities to serve as nutraceuticals or a lead addition to the development of functional foods. The biological activities of BPs vary depending on the sequence as well as amino acid composition. Existing database records approximately 3000 peptide sequences which possess potential biological activities such as antioxidants, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anti-adipogenics, anti-microbials, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancerous. The growing evidences suggest that BPs have very low toxicity, higher accuracy, less tissue accretion, and are easily degraded in the disposed environment. BPs are nowadays evolved as biologically active molecules with potential scope to reduce microbial contamination as well as ward off oxidation of foods, amend diverse range of human diseases to enhance the overall quality of human life. Against the clinical and health perspectives of BPs, this review aimed to elaborate current evolution of nutritional potential of BPs, studies pertaining to overcome limitations with respect to special focus on emerging extraction, protection and delivery tools of BPs. In addition, the nano-delivery mechanism of BP and its clinical significance is detailed. The aim of current review is to augment the research in the field of BPs production, identification, characterisation and to speed up the investigation of the incredible potentials of BPs as potential nutritional and functional food ingredient.

Recent advances in bio-based extraction processes for the recovery of bound phenolics from agro-industrial by-products and their biological activity

Usually found bound to other complex molecules (e.g., lignin, hemicellulose), phenolic compounds (PC) are widely present in agro-industrial by-products, and their extraction is challenging. In recent times, research is starting to highlight the bioactive roles played by bound phenolics (BPC) in human health. This review aims at providing a critical update on recent advances in green techniques for the recovery of BPC, focusing on enzymatic-assisted (EAE) and fermentation-assisted extraction (FAE) as well as in the combination of technologies, showing variable yield and features. The present review also summarizes the most recent biological activities attributed to BPC extracts until now. The higher antioxidant activity of BPC-compared to FPC-coupled with their affordable by-product source make them medicinally potent and economically viable, promoting their integral upcycling and generating new revenue streams, business, and employment opportunities. In addition, EAE and FAE can have a biotransformative effect on the PC itself or its moiety, leading to improved extraction outcomes. Moreover, recent research on BPC extracts has reported promising anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity. Yet further research is needed to elucidate their biological mechanisms and exploit the true potential of their applications in terms of new food products or ingredient development for human consumption.

Structural Characterization, Technofunctional and Rheological Properties of Sesame Proteins Treated by High-Intensity Ultrasound

Plant-derived proteins, such as those from sesame seeds, have the potential to be used as versatile food ingredients. End-use functionality can be further improved by high-intensity ultrasound treatments. The effects of high-intensity ultrasound on the properties of sesame protein isolates from cold-pressed sesame cake were evaluated. The SDS-PAGE demonstrated no significant changes in the molecular weight of proteins. Ultrasound treatments resulted in decreased particle size with a more uniform distribution, resulting in the exposure of hydrophobicity and free -SH groups and increased zeta potential. Although FTIR spectra of proteins were similar after ultrasonication, a partial increase in the intensity of the amide A band was observed. The ultrasound significantly (p < 0.05) affected the secondary structure of proteins. While optical micrographics revealed a dispersed structure with smaller particles after treatments, microstructural observations indicated more rough and irregular surfaces. Water solubility was improved to 80.73% in the sample subjected to 6 min of ultrasonication. Sesame protein solutions treated for 4 and 6 min exhibited viscoelastic structure (storage modulus (G') > loss modulus (G'')). In addition, the gelation temperature of proteins decreased to about 60-65 °C with increasing treatment time. Overall, ultrasound is a useful technique for the modification of sesame protein isolates.

Current Status and Nutritional Value of Green Leaf Protein

Green leaf biomass is one of the largest underutilized sources of nutrients worldwide. Whether it is purposely cultivated (forage crops, duckweed) or upcycled as a waste stream from the mass-produced agricultural crops (discarded leaves, offcuts, tops, peels, or pulp), the green biomass can be established as a viable alternative source of plant proteins in food and feed processing formulations. Rubisco is a major component of all green leaves, comprising up to 50% of soluble leaf protein, and offers many advantageous functional features in terms of essential amino acid profile, reduced allergenicity, enhanced gelation, foaming, emulsification, and textural properties. Nutrient profiles of green leaf biomass differ considerably from those of plant seeds in protein quality, vitamin and mineral concentration, and omega 6/3 fatty acid profiles. Emerging technological improvements in processing fractions, protein quality, and organoleptic profiles will enhance the nutritional quality of green leaf proteins as well as address scaling and sustainability challenges associated with the growing global demand for high quality nutrition.

Impact of ultrasound processing on alternative protein systems: Protein extraction, nutritional effects and associated challenges

Proteins from alternative sources including terrestrial and aquatic plants, microbes and insects are being increasingly explored to combat the dietary, environmental and ethical challenges linked primarily to conventional sources of protein, mainly meat and dairy proteins. Ultrasound (US) technologies have emerged as a clean, green and efficient methods for the extraction of proteins from alternative sources compared to conventional methods. However, the application of US can also lead to modifications of the proteins extracted from alternative sources, including changes in their nutritional quality (protein content, amino acid composition, protein digestibility, anti-nutritional factors) and allergenicity, as well as damage of the compounds associated with an increased degradation resulting from extreme US processing conditions. This work aims to summarise the main advances in US equipment currently available to date, including the main US parameters and their effects on the extraction of protein from alternative sources, as well as the studies available on the effects of US processing on the nutritional value, allergenicity and degradation damage of these alternative protein ingredients. The main research gaps identified in this work and future challenges associated to the widespread application of US and their scale-up to industry operations are also covered in detail.

Plant-derived proteins as a sustainable source of bioactive peptides: recent research updates on emerging production methods, bioactivities, and potential application

The development of novel protein sources to compensate for the expected future shortage of traditional animal proteins due to their high carbon footprint is a major contemporary challenge in the agri-food industry currently. Therefore, both industry and consumers are placing a greater emphasis on plant proteins as a sustainable source of protein to meet the growing nutritional demand of ever increasing population. In addition to being key alternatives, many plant-based foods have biological properties that make them potentially functional or health-promoting foods, particularly physiologically active peptides and proteins accounting for most of these properties. This review discusses the importance of plant-based protein as a viable and sustainable alternative to animal proteins. The current advances in plant protein isolation and production and characterization of bioactive hydrolysates and peptides from plant proteins are described comprehensively. Furthermore, the recent research on bioactivities and bioavailability of plant protein-derived bioactive peptides is reviewed briefly. The limitations of using bioactive peptides, regulatory criteria, and the possible future applications of plant protein-derived bioactive peptides are highlighted. This review may help understand plant proteins and their bioactive peptides and provide valuable suggestions for future research and applications in the food industry.

Bioactive peptides of plant origin: distribution, functionality, and evidence of benefits in food and health

The multiple functions of peptides released from proteins have immense potential in food and health. In the past few decades, research interest in bioactive peptides of plant origin has surged tremendously, and new plant-derived peptides are continually discovered with advances in extraction, purification, and characterization technology. Plant-derived peptides are mainly extracted from dicot plants possessing bioactive functions, including antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and antihypertensive activities. Although the distinct functions are said to depend on the composition and structure of amino acids, the practical or industrial application of plant-derived peptides with bioactive features is still a long way off. In summary, the present review mainly focuses on the state-of-the-art extraction, separation, and analytical techniques, functional properties, mechanism of action, and clinical study of plant-derived peptides. Special emphasis has been placed on the necessity of more pre-clinical and clinical trials to authenticate the health claims of plant-derived peptides.

An Overview on the Use of Response Surface Methodology to Model and Optimize Extraction Processes in the Food Industry

Response surface methodology (RSM) is a widely used tool for modeling and optimization for food processes. The objective of this review is to evaluate recent findings on the use of RSM in the extraction of compounds from agri-food products. First, the steps for the application of RSM were briefly detailed. According to the analysis performed, RSM is suitable because it evaluates the effects of the independent variables and their interactions on the responses, which is ideal for the optimization of different techniques for the extraction of multiple bioactive compounds and therefore, in the various studies, has allowed to significantly increase the yield and even the biological activities of the extracts; however, RSM has limitations and considering the complexity and dynamics of foods, the challenge is much greater. In this sense, it was determined that simultaneous use with other techniques is necessary in order to optimally describe the process and obtain more accurate results.

Manufacturing of Plant-Based Bioactive Peptides Using Enzymatic Methods to Meet Health and Sustainability Targets of the Sustainable Development Goals

Due to the rapid growth in the global population, the consumption of animal-based food products/food compounds has been associated with negative implications for food sustainability/security. As a result, there is an increasing demand for the development of plant-based food and compounds as alternatives. Meanwhile, a growing number of studies report the health benefits of food protein-based peptides prepared via enzymatic hydrolysis and exhibiting biological properties such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-thrombotic, and antidiabetic activities. However, the inherent bitterness of some peptides hinders their application in food products as ingredients. This article aims to provide the latest findings on plant-based bioactive peptides, particularly their health benefits, manufacturing methods, detection and qualification of their bitterness properties, as well as debittering methods to reduce or eliminate this negative sensory characteristic. However, there is still a paucity of research on the biological property of debittered peptides. Therefore, the role of plant protein-derived bioactive peptides to meet the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals can only be realised if advances are made in the industrial-scale bioprocessing and debittering of these peptides.

A Review on the Extraction and Processing of Natural Source-Derived Proteins through Eco-Innovative Approaches

In addition to their nutritional and physiological role, proteins are recognized as the major compounds responsible for the rheological properties of food products and their stability during manufacture and storage. Furthermore, proteins have been shown to be source of bioactive peptides able to exert beneficial effects on human health. In recent years, scholarly interest has focused on the incorporation of high-quality proteins into the diet. This fact, together with the new trends of consumers directed to avoid the intake of animal proteins, has boosted the search for novel and sustainable protein sources and the development of suitable, cost-affordable, and environmentally friendly technologies to extract high concentrations of valuable proteins incorporated into food products and supplements. In this review, current data on emergent and promising methodologies applied for the extraction of proteins from natural sources are summarized. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of these novel methods, compared with conventional methods, are detailed. Additionally, this work describes the combination of these technologies with the enzymatic hydrolysis of extracted proteins as a powerful strategy for releasing bioactive peptides.

Non-animal proteins as cutting-edge ingredients to reformulate animal-free foodstuffs: Present status and future perspectives

Consumer interest in protein rich diets is increasing, with more attention being paid to the protein source. Despite the occurrence of animal proteins in the human diet, non-animal proteins are gaining popularity around the world due to their health benefits, environmental sustainability, and ethical merit. These sources of protein qualify for vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets. Non-animal proteins are versatile, derived mainly from cereals, vegetables, pulses, algae (seaweed and microalgae), fungi, and bacteria. This review's intent is to analyze the current and future direction of research and innovation in non-animal proteins, and to elucidate the extent (limitations and opportunities) of their applications in food and beverage industries. Prior knowledge provided relevant information on protein features (processing, structure, and techno-functionality) with particular focus on those derived from soy and wheat. In the current food landscape, beyond conventionally used plant sources, other plant proteins are gaining traction as alternative ingredients to formulate animal-free foodstuffs (e.g., meat alternatives, beverages, baked products, snack foods, and others). Microbial proteins derived from fungi and algae are also food ingredients of interest due to their high protein quantity and quality, however there is no commercial food application for bacterial protein yet. In the future, key points to consider are the importance of strain/variety selection, advances in extraction technologies, toxicity assessment, and how this source can be used to create food products for personalized nutrition.

Ultrasound: a suitable technology to improve the extraction and techno-functional properties of vegetable food proteins

Vegetable-based proteins may be extracted from different sources using different extraction methods, among them, ultrasound-assisted extraction stands out. This review presents the current knowledge on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and the functional properties of extracted vegetable proteins. Ultrasound generates cavitation in a liquid medium, defined as gas and vapor microbubbles collapse under pressure changes large enough to separate them in the medium. Cavitation facilitates the solvent and solid interaction, increasing yield and reducing extraction periods and temperature used. Moreover, ultrasound treatment changed extracted protein properties such as solubility, hydrophobicity, emulsifying and foam, water and oil absorption capacity, viscosity, and gelatinization. Ultrasound-assisted extraction is a promising technique for the food technology sector, presenting low environmental impact, lower energy and solvent consumption, and it is in accordance with green chemistry technology and sustainable concepts.

Enzymatic hydrolysis: Sialylated mucin (SiaMuc) glycoprotein of edible swiftlet's nest (ESN) and its molecular weight distribution as bioactive ESN SiaMuc-glycopeptide hydrolysate

Bioactive edible swiftlet's nest (ESN) sialylated-mucin (SiaMuc) hydrolysate is produced by alcalase hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of ESN breakdown high-valued ESN SiaMuc-glycoprotein into bioactive SiaMuc-glycopeptide. This is a breakthrough for the issue of insolubility and low extraction rate in ESN, and even increases the bioavailability of ESN nutritional functionality and health benefits. Hydrolysis of ESN SiaMuc-glycoprotein was performed for 1 to 4 h and its effect on physicochemical properties, molecular weight (MW) distribution, SiaMuc-glycoprotein and glycopeptide integrity were determined. Other than improvement in solubility and bioavailability as SiaMuc-glycopeptide, results from SDS-PAGE revealed that MW of SiaMuc-glycoprotein decreased from 42.0-148.8 kDa to 17.7-142.7 kDa with increasing hydrolysis period. Further hydrolysis from maximized DH (90 min) showed an insignificant effect on the MW of ESN SiaMuc-glycopeptide and remained constant at 15.2 kDa. This highlights that enzymatic hydrolysis only influences macro SiaMuc-glycoprotein fractions (142.7, 115.3 and 102.7 kDa), while the majority of SiaMuc-glycopeptide fractions from 36.6-98.6 kDa remained intact. Conclusively, alcalase hydrolysis of ESN showed high recovery in the form of bioactive ESN SiaMuc-glycopeptide. Therefore, enzymatic biotechnology is an economic alternative applicable on ESN that broaden industrial utilization by reducing the MW without destroying the quality of bioactive SiaMuc-glycoprotein.

Metabolic Profiling of the Oil of Sesame of the Egyptian Cultivar 'Giza 32' Employing LC-MS and Tandem MS-Based Untargeted Method

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a global oil crop. Sesame oil has been regarded as functional oil with antioxidant properties in several in vivo studies but little is known about its minor fraction. In this line, this study figures out the profile of the polar fraction of Egyptian cultivar Giza 32 sesame oil (SG32 oil) employing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry and tandem MS. The characterization of the sesame oil metabolites depended on the observation of their retention time values, accurate MS, and MS/MS data, with UV spectra, and compared with relevant literature and available standards. Remarkably, 86 metabolites were characterized and sub-grouped into phenolic acids, lignans, flavonoids, nitrogenous compounds, and organic acids. From the characterized metabolites, 72 compounds were previously characterized in SG32 cake, which presented antioxidant properties, and hence it could contribute to SG32 oil antioxidant properties. Further studies are required to state the presence of such phenolics in commercial sesame oils and what of these compounds resist oil refining.

Effects of ultrasonic pre-treatment on physicochemical properties of proteins extracted from cold-pressed sesame cake

Sesame is an oil crop with high nutritional value. Protein is one of the main ingredients of sesame, however research on protein of cold-pressed sesame cake is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasonic pre-treatment (UPT) on physicochemical properties of proteins (yield, solubility, amino acid composition, surface properties, structural and thermal stability) extracted from the cold-pressed sesame cake, after removing lignans by ultrasonic-assisted extraction. By comparison, the extraction yield of protein was significantly (p ＜ 0.05) increased from 22.24% (without UPT) to 25.95% (with UPT), while the purity (54.08% without UPT, 55.43% with UPT), total amount of essential amino acids (22.48% without UPT, 23.10% with UPT) and non-essential amino acids (37.48% without UPT, 36.54% with UPT) were not significantly influenced. Besides, UPT slightly reduced the solubility, foaming capacity and stability (FC and FS) of protein. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal stability (TG) analysis demonstrated that UPT could disorder and loose protein molecular structure, resulting in the change of morphology, secondary structure and thermal stability. In conclusion, this study provides a way for the separation and future application of sesame cake protein. UPT is a good option to remove the lignans from sesame cake proteins.

Bioactive peptides derived from plant origin by-products: Biological activities and techno-functional utilizations in food developments - A review

Agro-industrial by-products containing considerable amounts of protein (10-50%) such as soybean meal, rice bran and coconut pulp are promising bioactive peptide sources with annual disposal rate of 800 million tons in the world. More recently, plant by-products rich in protein content have been studied under various prisms that include recovery techniques, peptide production methods, determination of technological benefits and functional properties, and their applications in foods. The researches in bioactive peptides provide evidence over the techno-functional properties and the health benefits are highly dependent upon their amino acid sequences, molecular weights, conformations and surface properties. Research findings compared bioactive properties of the obtained peptides with respect to their amino acid sequences and also reported that hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties have direct effect on both functional and health effects. In addition, the resultant properties of the peptides could be affected by the conducted extraction method (alkaline, enzymatic, ultrasound assisted, microwave assisted, etc.), extraction solvent, precipitation and purification techniques and even by the final drying process (spray, freeze, vacuum, etc.) which may alter molecular weights, conformations and surface properties. Latest studies have investigated solubility, emulsifying, foaming, water/oil holding capacity and surface properties and also antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory and opioid activities of bioactive peptides obtained from plant by-products. Moreover, the application of the bioactive peptides into different food formulations has been a recent trend of functional food development. These bioactive peptides' bitter taste and toxicity are possible challenges in some cases that need to be resolved before their wider utilization.