Combined uses of an endo- and exopeptidase in okara improve the hydrolysates via formation of aglycone isoflavones and antioxidant capacity

Structural elucidation, binding sites exploration and biological activities of bound phenolics from Radix Puerariae Thomsonii

Radix puerariae thomsonii (RPT) contains many phenolics and exhibits various health benefits. Although the free phenolics in RPT have been identified, the composition and content of bound phenolics, which account for approximately 20% of the total phenolic content, remain unknown. In this study, 12 compounds were isolated and identified from RPT-bound phenolic extracts, of which 2 were novel and 6 were reported first in RPT. ORAC and PSC antioxidant activities of 12 compounds, as well as their effects on alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase were evaluated. Genistein exhibited the highest ORAC activity, while daidzin demonstrated superior PSC activity. Five compounds, including two new compounds, exhibited the ability to activate both ADH and ALDH. All the compounds except 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid methyl ester and 2,4,4'-trihydroxydeoxybenzoin demonstrated inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Alkaline hydrolysis and stepwise enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that bound phenolics in RPT mainly exist within starch.

Ethnomedicinal Importance of Patuletin in Medicine: Pharmacological Activities and Analytical Aspects

BACKGROUND

Plant-derived bioactive molecules have been a major source of therapeutic agents for human and veterinarian purposes. Different traditional medicine system across the globe had relied on natural resources to meet their demand of healthcare. Still in modern world, pharmaceutical industries look for phytochemicals to develop new drugs. The current review explores patuletin, a flavonoid for its diverse reported pharmacological activities along with its analytical techniques.

METHODS

Scientific data published on patuletin was collected from Scopus, Science Direct, Pubmed, Google, and Google Scholar. The collected data were analyzed and arranged as per specific pharmacological activities performed using in-vitro or in-vivo methods. Analytical methods of patuletin have been presented next to pharmacological activities Results: Available scientific literature indicates patuletin has anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative, antiplatelet, antinociceptive, and antioxidant activity. In addition to these activities, its biological potential on breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, aldose reductase, and different types of microorganisms has been also presented in this work. Analytical data on patuletin signified the importance of patuletin for the standardization of herbal products and derived medicine.

CONCLUSION

It may be concluded that patuletin with its diverse biological activities and readily available analytical methods, holds the potential to be translated into a new drug entity.

Novel antioxidant peptides in fermented pork sausage: Purification, characterization, and cytoprotective functions on Caco-2 cells

In this study, crude peptides from fermented sausages inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum CD101 and Staphylococcus simulans NJ201 were initially separated by ultrafiltration and molecular-sieve chromatography. The obtained fractions with high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power values (MWCO-1 and fraction A) were used in Caco-2 cells to evaluate their cytoprotective effect on oxidative damage triggered by H₂O₂. MWCO-1 and A showed slight cytotoxicity. Increased glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities and decreased malondialdehyde content were observed in the peptide-treated groups. Fraction A was further purified using reversed high-performance liquid chromatography. Eighty potential antioxidant peptides were identified by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and fourteen antioxidant peptides were synthesized. SDEEVEH and FAGDDAPR showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, whereas ALELDSNLYR and QEYDESGPSIVHR presented strong ABTS^+· scavenging activity. These peptides might have great potential for food and pharmacological applications.

Micronized Dietary Okara Fiber: Characterization, Antioxidant, Antihyperglycemic, Antihyperlipidemic, and Pancreato-Protective Effects in High Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a lifelong devastating and debilitating disease with serious chronic complications. Okara is a byproduct generated from soymilk or tofu production and it has been reported to have antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects. However, the antidiabetic effects and pancreatic β-cells' secretory functions of micronized okara fiber (MOF) have not been reported. Therefore, this study explored the antidiabetic effects and modulatory potentials of MOF on pancreatic β-cells' secretory functions in a high fat/high sugar/streptozotocin rat model of diabetes mellitus. Fiber-rich okara was prepared by removing fat and proteins from freshly obtained okara, followed by micronization. Fiber-rich okara was prepared, micronized, and characterized for hydrophobicity, thermal stability, structure-function relationship, and antioxidant potentials. We then established a rat model of DM and MOF and two doses (100 and 400 mg kg^-1) were administered to see its anti-DM effect. Four weeks of MOF supplementation significantly reduced blood glucose, increased serum insulin level, improved hepatorenal functions, glucose tolerance, and regenerated pancreatic β-cells in the treated DM rats. Furthermore, MOF significantly improved the pancreatic antioxidant defense system by significantly elevating glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities while depleting the malonaldehyde level in the pancreas of the treated diabetic rats. Our results indicated that MOF ameliorated DM by impeding hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress and enhancing the secretory functions of the beta cells, suggesting that MOF might be used as a protective nutrient in DM.

Effects of enzyme-assisted extraction on the profile and bioaccessibility of isoflavones from soybean flour

The effects of enzymatic extraction strategies on extractability, bioconversion, and bioaccessibility of biologically active isoflavone aglycones, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts from full-fat soy flour were evaluated. Protease, tannase, and cellulase enzymes were used individually or in combination. Except for the protease treatment, all enzymatic treatments increased the extraction of biologically active isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) compared with the control. The use of a mixture of protease, tannase, and cellulase resulted in increased extractability and/or bioconversion of aglycones from soy flour, indicating a synergistic effect amongst the enzymes. Daidzein and genistein concentrations increased from 29.0 to 158.2 μg/g and from 27.0 to 156.5 μg/g (compared to the control), respectively. Furthermore, enzymatic extraction followed by in vitro gastrointestinal digestion significantly increased the bioaccessibility of isoflavone aglycones, total phenolic content (by 22-45%), and antioxidant activity (by 15-22%) of the extracts. These results demonstrate that enzyme selection is an efficient strategy to maximize the extraction, bioconversion, and bioaccessibility of bioactive isoflavones from soy flour, which could contribute to health benefits associated with the consumption of soy-rich products.

Use of Alcalase in the production of bioactive peptides: A review

This review aims to cover the uses of the commercially available protease Alcalase in the production of biologically active peptides since 2010. Immobilization of Alcalase has also been reviewed, as immobilization of the enzyme may improve the final reaction design enabling the use of more drastic conditions and the reuse of the biocatalyst. That way, this review presents the production, via Alcalase hydrolysis of different proteins, of peptides with antioxidant, angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory, metal binding, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities (among other bioactivities) and peptides that improve the functional, sensory and nutritional properties of foods. Alcalase has proved to be among the most efficient proteases for this goal, using different protein sources, being especially interesting the use of the protein residues from food industry as feedstock, as this also solves nature pollution problems. Very interestingly, the bioactivities of the protein hydrolysates further improved when Alcalase is used in a combined way with other proteases both in a sequential way or in a simultaneous hydrolysis (something that could be related to the concept of combi-enzymes), as the combination of proteases with different selectivities and specificities enable the production of a larger amount of peptides and of a smaller size.