Food-derived antithrombotic peptides: Preparation, identification, and interactions with thrombin

Classification of bioactive peptides: A systematic benchmark of models and encodings

Bioactive peptides are short amino acid chains possessing biological activity and exerting physiological effects relevant to human health. Despite their therapeutic value, their identification remains a major problem, as it mainly relies on time-consuming in vitro tests. While bioinformatic tools for the identification of bioactive peptides are available, they are focused on specific functional classes and have not been systematically tested on realistic settings. To tackle this problem, bioactive peptide sequences and functions were here gathered from a variety of databases to generate a unified collection of bioactive peptides from microbial fermentation. This collection was organized into nine functional classes including some previously studied and some unexplored such as immunomodulatory, opioid and cardiovascular peptides. Upon assessing their sequence properties, four alternative encoding methods were tested in combination with a multitude of machine learning algorithms, from basic classifiers like logistic regression to advanced algorithms like BERT. Tests on a total of 171 models showed that, while some functions are intrinsically easier to detect, no single combination of classifiers and encoders worked universally well for all classes. For this reason, we unified all the best individual models for each class and generated CICERON (Classification of bIoaCtive pEptides fRom micrObial fermeNtation), a classification tool for the functional classification of peptides. State-of-the-art classifiers were found to underperform on our realistic benchmark dataset compared to the models included in CICERON. Altogether, our work provides a tool for real-world peptide classification and can serve as a benchmark for future model development.

Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease: The Potential Role of Marine Bioactive Proteins and Peptides in Thrombosis Prevention

Thrombus and cardiovascular diseases pose a significant health threat, and dietary interventions have shown promising potential in reducing the incidence of these diseases. Marine bioactive proteins and peptides have been extensively studied for their antithrombotic properties. They can inhibit platelet activation and aggregation by binding to key receptors on the platelet surface. Additionally, they can competitively anchor to critical enzyme sites, leading to the inhibition of coagulation factors. Marine microorganisms also offer alternative sources for the development of novel fibrinolytic proteins, which can help dissolve blood clots. The advancements in technologies, such as targeted hydrolysis, specific purification, and encapsulation, have provided a solid foundation for the industrialization of bioactive peptides. These techniques enable precise control over the production and delivery of bioactive peptides, enhancing their efficacy and safety. However, it is important to note that further research and clinical studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of marine bioactive proteins and peptides in mitigating thrombotic events. The challenges and future application perspectives of these bioactive peptides also need to be explored.

An Integrated Comprehensive Peptidomics and In Silico Analysis of Bioactive Peptide-Rich Milk Fermented by Three Autochthonous Cocci Strains

Bioactive peptides (BPs) are molecules of paramount importance with great potential for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals or therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of various diseases. A functional BP-rich dairy product was produced by lyophilisation of bovine milk fermented by the autochthonous strains Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ZGBP5-51, Enterococcus faecium ZGBP5-52 and Enterococcus faecalis ZGBP5-53 isolated from the same artisanal fresh cheese. The efficiency of the proteolytic system of the implemented strains in the production of BPs was confirmed by a combined high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS)-based peptidome profiling and an in silico approach. First, peptides released by microbial fermentation were identified via a non-targeted peptide analysis (NTA) comprising reversed-phase nano-liquid chromatography (RP nano-LC) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) MS, and then quantified by targeted peptide analysis (TA) involving RP ultrahigh-performance LC (RP-UHPLC) coupled with triple-quadrupole MS (QQQ-MS). A combined database and literature search revealed that 10 of the 25 peptides identified in this work have bioactive properties described in the literature. Finally, by combining the output of MS-based peptidome profiling with in silico bioactivity prediction tools, three peptides (75QFLPYPYYAKPA86, 40VAPFPEVFGK49, 117ARHPHPHLSF126), whose bioactive properties have not been previously reported in the literature, were identified as potential BP candidates.

An update on the effects of food-derived active peptides on the intestinal microecology

The intestinal microecology is a research hotspot, and neologisms related to the gut such as gut-brain axis, gut-lung axis, gut-bone axis, gut-skin axis, gut-renal axis, and gut-liver axis have emerged from recent research. Meticulous investigation has discovered that food-derived active peptides (FDAPs) are bioactive substances that optimize the structure of the gut microbiota to improve human health. However, few reviews have summarized and emphasized the nutritional value of FDAPs and their mechanisms of action in regulating the composition of the gut microbiota. We aim to provide an update on the latest research on FDAPs by comparing, summarizing, and discussing the potential food sources of FDAPs, their physiological functions, and regulatory effects on the intestinal microecology. The key findings are that few studies have analyzed the potential mechanisms and molecular pathways through which FDAPs maintain intestinal microecological homeostasis. We found that an imbalance in the ratio of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in the gut microbiota and abnormal production of short-chain fatty acids are key to the occurrence and development of various diseases. This review provides theoretical support for future comprehensive research on the digestion, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of FDAPs and the mechanisms underlying the interactions between FDAPs and the intestinal microecology.

Purification and identification of thrombolytic peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of Pheretima vulgaris

Pheretima vulgaris has been prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China for several hundred years in the form of dried powder in the clinic. However, the peptides with the potential antithrombotic activity of this source have never been reported. The total active proteins from Pheretima vulgaris were hydrolyzed by eight different commercial proteases and the alcalase hydrolysate showed the strongest thrombolytic activity. Four original thrombolytic peptides were isolated and characterized using bioactivity-directed fractionation of the active hydrolysate. The amino acid sequences were identified as HEPLPEP (m/z 818.40076), EYPLPEP (m/z 844.39648), LGEPSVP (m/z 698.39648), and LLAPP (m/z 510.28043) by nanoLC-ESI-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with PEAKS software. HEPLPEP and EYPLPEP, containing the common -PLPEP residue, showed superior thrombolytic activity in plasmin assay and fibrinogen-thrombin time assay. This research confirmed that Pheretima vulgaris was a potential source of active peptides with thrombolytic activities and provided novel candidates for the thrombolytic agents. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Thrombosis has become the leading cause of mortality as it was the common underlying pathology of cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, and stroke. The demand for thrombolytics has increased gradually as the incidence trends of thrombosis-related diseases raise with the aging of the population. Four novel thrombolytic peptides were characterized from Pheretima vulgaris proteins hydrolysates, among which HEPLPEP and EYPLPEP could prevent the formation of thrombus and degrade existing thrombus in vitro. These peptides are promising to be meritorious templates for developing thrombolytic agents. The structure-function relationship of peptides resulting from the presence of specific residues in these sequences may contribute to extending the knowledge about their thrombolytic activity, which may be useful in designing novel thrombolytic agents. The present research based on a bioactivity-directed isolation strategy could also be applied to other animal-derived traditional Chinese medicines with proteins or peptides as their function basis.

Crassostrea gigas-Based Bioactive Peptide Protected Thrombin-Treated Endothelial Cells against Thrombosis and Cell Barrier Dysfunction

The activation of thrombin-treated endothelial cells resulted in disruption of the vascular tissues. A novel oyster-derived bioactive dodecapeptide (IEELEELEAER, P-2-CG) was reported to protect the human umbilical vein endothelial cells and their barrier function via the decrease of VE-cadherin disruption and the restoration of the F-actin arrangement. The promotion of the extrinsic pathway in this case triggers the release of tissue factors that occurs on the surface of the endothelial cells, thus changing the antithrombotic to prothrombotic. P-2-CG induced accordingly a prolongation of plasma clotting time and thrombin generation time, following the alteration of the antithrombotic phenotype. Furthermore, the antithrombotic activity of P-2-CG was also supported by the reduction of FXa and the inhibition of other factors release, for instance, inflammation factors, ROS, etc. In addition to its antithrombogenic role, P-2-CG displayed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties via the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and central signaling pathways as shown in an in vitro model of endothelial dysfunction.

Purification and Identification of a Novel Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptide from the Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Lepidotrigla microptera

In this study, Lepidotrigla microptera were hydrolyzed with four different proteolytic enzymes (Papain, neutrase, flavourzyme, and alcalase), and their distribution of molecular weights and ACE-inhibitory activity were tested. The alcalase hydrolysates showed the maximum ACE-inhibitory activity. A novel ACE-inhibitory peptide was isolated and purified from Lepidotrigla microptera protein hydrolysate (LMPH) using ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC). The amino acid sequence of the purified peptide was identified as Phe-Leu-Thr-Ala-Gly-Leu-Leu-Asp (DLTAGLLE), and the IC50 value was 0.13 mg/mL. The ACE-inhibitory activity of DLTAGLLE was stable across a range of temperatures (<100 °C) and pH values (3.0−11.0) and retained after gastrointestinal digestion. DLTAGLLE was further identified as a noncompetitive inhibitor by Lineweaver−Burk plot. The molecular docking simulation showed that DLTAGLLE showed a high binding affinity with ACE sites by seven short hydrogen bonds. As the first reported antihypertensive peptide extracted from alcalase hydrolysate of Lepidotrigla microptera, DLTAGLLE has the potential to develop functional food or novel ACE-inhibitor drugs.

Bioactive peptides of whey: obtaining, activity, mechanism of action, and further applications

Bioactive peptides derived from diverse food proteins have been part of diverse investigations. Whey is a rich source of proteins and components related to biological activity. It is known that proteins have effects that promote health benefits. Peptides derived from whey proteins are currently widely studied. These bioactive peptides are amino acid sequences that are encrypted within the first structure of proteins, which required hydrolysis for their release. The hydrolysis could be through in vitro or in vivo enzymatic digestion and using microorganisms in fermented systems. The biological activities associated with bio-peptides include immunomodulatory properties, antibacterial, antihypertensive, antioxidant and opioid, etc. These functions are related to general conditions of health or reduced risk of certain chronic illnesses. To determine the suitability of these peptides/ingredients for applications in food technology, clinical studies are required to evaluate their bioavailability, health claims, and safety of them. This review aimed to describe the biological importance of whey proteins according to the incidence in human health, their role as bioactive peptides source, describing methods, and obtaining technics. In addition, the paper exposes biochemical mechanisms during the activity exerted by biopeptides of whey, and their application trends.

Characterization of Chelation and Absorption of Calcium by a Mytilus edulis Derived Osteogenic Peptide

In a previous study, the peptide LGKDQVRT, which was identified by enzymatic hydrolysis, released during the proteolysis of Mytilus edulis, had potential osteogenic activity. In this study, the octapeptide LGKDQVRT was able to spontaneously bind calcium in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, and the calcium-binding site likely involves calcium and amino acid VAL6 in the LGKDQVRT peptide to form a metal-donor to metal acceptor complex. The peptide LGKDQVRT has the activity of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The results of this study suggest that hydrolyzed peptides from Mytilus edulis protein can be used as a dietary supplement to improve calcium absorption and prevent osteoporosis.

An Updated Review of Bioactive Peptides from Mushrooms in a Well-Defined Molecular Weight Range

Here, we report the current status of the bioactive peptides isolated and characterized from mushrooms during the last 20 years, considering ‘peptide’ a succession from to 2 to 100 amino acid residues. According to this accepted biochemical definition, we adopt ~10 kDa as the upper limit of molecular weight for a peptide. In light of this, a careful revision of data reported in the literature was carried out. The search revealed that in the works describing the characterization of bioactive peptides from mushrooms, not all the peptides have been correctly classified according to their molecular weight, considering that some fungal proteins (>10 kDa MW) have been improperly classified as ‘peptides’. Moreover, the biological action of each of these peptides, the principles of their isolation as well as the source/mushroom species were summarized. Finally, this review highlighted that these peptides possess antihypertensive, antifungal, antibiotic and antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant and ACE inhibitory properties.

Prediction of Bioactive Peptides From Chicken Feather and Pig Hair Keratins Using In Silico Analysis Based on Fragmentomic Approach

BACKGROUND

Keratin is among the most abundant structural proteins of animal origin, however it remains broadly underutilized. <P> Objective: Bioinformatic investigation was performed to evaluate selected keratins originating from mass-produced waste products, i.e., chicken feathers and pig hair, as potential sources of bioactive peptides. <P> Methods: Pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, and subtilisin were used for in silico keratinolysis with the use of "Enzyme(s) action" and fragmentomic analysis of theoretical products was performed using "Profiles of potential biological activity" in BIOPEP-UWM database of bioactive peptides. Bioactivity probability calculation and toxicity prediction of the peptides obtained were estimated using PeptideRanker and ToxinPred tools, respectively. <P> Results: Our results showed that the keratins are a potential source of a variety of biopeptides, including dipeptidyl peptidase IV, angiotensin converting enzyme, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory and antioxidative. Papain and subtilisin were found to be the most appropriate enzymes for keratin hydrolysis. This study presents possible structures of keratin-derived bioactive peptides that have not been previously described. <P> Conclusion: Our data suggest additional in vitro and in vivo studies to verify theoretical predictions and further investigate the possibility of using keratin-rich waste as a source of peptide nutraceuticals.

Current findings support the potential use of bioactive peptides in enhancing zinc absorption in humans

More than two billion people around the world are affected by zinc deficiency, mainly due to the inadequate intake and absorption of zinc. Based on recent research findings, the bioactive peptides could potentially be used to combat zinc deficiency particularly due to their Zinc chelating ability. The main aim of this review was to present current findings, supporting the potential use of bioactive peptides based on their ability to enhance zinc absorption. In-vivo, in-vitro, and ex-vivo studies have demonstrated that zinc chelating peptides can enhance the retention, transportation, and absorption of zinc. Comparative studies on zinc bioavailability from protein hydrolysates and zinc salts have demonstrated that the protein hydrolysates-zinc complexes are more bioavailable than the zinc salts. Data from the structure-function relationship of zinc chelating peptides suggest that the zinc chelating capacities of peptides increase in the following order; the position of zinc chelator > zinc chelator strength > abundance of zinc chelators > net charge > molecular weight. In addition, the transport mechanism of peptide-zinc complex is hypothesized, and the potential use of bioactive peptides based on their safety and taste and limitations to their commercialization are also discussed.

Role of bioactive peptides derived from food proteins in programmed cell death to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer

Bioactive peptides are specific peptide which usually contains 2-20 amino acid residues and actively exerts various functions and biological activities and ultimately affect health. Programmed cell deaths are some styles of cell death discovered in recent years, which is the key to tissue development and balance, eliminating excess, damaged or aging cells. More importantly, programmed cell death is a potential way to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this review, through screening references from 2015 to present, we introduce the effect of bioactive peptides derived from food proteins on inflammatory diseases or cancer through regulating programmed cell deaths, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis. And this review also introduces the targets of these bioactive peptides to regulate programmed cell death. The purpose of this review is to help to expand the prospective applications of bioactive peptides in the field of inflammatory disease and cancer to provide some guidance.

A novel anticoagulant peptide discovered from Crassostrea gigas by combining bioinformatics with the enzymolysis strategy: inhibitory kinetics and mechanisms

A novel anticoagulant peptide (IEELEEELEAER) derived from oyster (Crassostrea gigas) was discovered by combining the emerging bioinformatics with the classical enzymolysis approach. The anticoagulant peptide drastically reduced the extrinsic clotting activity (49% residual PT activity) and impaired the intrinsic clotting activity (77% residual PT activity). Consistent with the clotting data, the thrombin peak height reduced to 88.7 from 123.4 nM, and the thrombin generation time delayed to 5.32 from 4.42 min when an extrinsic trigger was applied. The inhibitory kinetics of FXIa, FIXa, FXa, FIIa, and APC in a purified component system rationally explained the reduction of the extrinsic clotting activity and impairment of thrombin generation. Besides the inhibition of FXa and FIIa activity, the activation processes of FX and FII by an intrinsic/extrinsic tenase complex and prothrombinase were also damaged. The anticoagulant activity in the plasma system was the result of comprehensive inhibition of various factors. The research provided a frame for anticoagulant evaluation and inhibitory mechanism of bioactive peptides from food products.

Anticoagulant Dodecapeptide Suppresses Thrombosis In Vivo by Inhibiting the Thrombin Exosite-I Binding Site

Thrombin is a crucial regulatory serine protease in hemostasis and thrombosis and has been a therapeutic target of thrombotic events. A novel oyster-derived thrombin inhibitory dodecapeptide (IEELEELEAER, P-2-CG) was identified and characterized. P-2-CG prolonged thrombin time from 9.6 s to 23.3 s at 5 mg/mL in vitro. P-2-CG bound to thrombin Exosite-I domain spontaneously. The occupied Exosite-I blocked fibrinogen binding, which prolonged fibrinogen clotting time to 28 s from 18.5 s. Molecule dynamics demonstrated the interaction of P-2-CG and thrombin Exosite-I involved in eight hydrogen bonds and lots of electrostatic forces. The residue Tyr⁷⁶ at thrombin Exosite-I is one critical amino acid for fibrinogen binding. The Glu¹¹ in P-2-CG was bound with Tyr⁷⁶ through strong hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic action. P-2-CG also significantly reduced the mortality of mice that suffered an acute pulmonary embolism induced by thrombin and inhibited mice tail thrombosis induced by κ-carrageenan. The thrombin inhibitory efficiency in vitro and antithrombosis in vivo of P-2-CG provided insight for further applications to serve as an antithrombotic agent.

Oxidative stability of high oleic sunflower oil during deep-frying process of purple potato Purple Majesty

The behaviour of high oleic sunflower oil in deep frying process of purple potato Purple Majesty has been evaluated simulating a fast food cooking process. This oil was used for 8h/day for 6 days, filling up from the 2nd day. A discontinuous and prolonged procedure was tested. Free Fatty Acidity (FFA), Peroxide Value (PV), Total Polar Compounds (TPC), Fatty Acid (FA) composition, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) have been determined at different times in thermo-oxidized (T-OX) oil, and in frying oil. The FFA in T-OX oil samples showed values in the range 0.09%–0.24%, whereas in the frying oil values varied in a range between 0.09% and 0.16%. TPCs values varied from 1.76% to 38.24% in T-OX oils, whereas in frying oil used for frying purple potatoes (FOPP) showed values in the range from 1.76 to 29.13%. The peroxides values did not follow a regular pattern, both during thermo-oxidation and during frying. Among the Long Chain Fatty Acids (LCFAs), oleic acid was the most represented (84.13%). Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) amount was 0.34% (octanoic acid). Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) amount was 4.45% (palmitic acid). During the thermo-oxidation, the poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) amount decreased during the 48 h of heat treatment, reaching an amount of 6.21%. This determined the increase in short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Trans fatty acids increased with the frying time. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) reached the value of 90.19%; SFA was 9.79%, and octanoic acid was 0.20%. A correlation between TPC vs UFA/SFA and TPC vs C18:2/C16:0 was observed in the frying oil. The most abundant volatile compounds in frying oil (from 0 to 48 h) were the aldehydes produced by decomposition of hydroperoxides of oleic and linoleic acids.

Techniques, perspectives, and challenges of bioactive peptide generation: A comprehensive systematic review

Due to the digestible refractory and absorbable structures of bioactive peptides (BPs), they could induce notable biological impacts on the living organism. In this regard, the current study was devoted to providing an overview regarding the available methods for BPs generation by the aid of a systematic review conducted on the published articles up to April 2019. In this context, the PubMed and Scopus databases were screened to retrieve the related publications. According to the results, although the characterization of BPs mainly has been performed using enzymatic and microbial in-vitro methods, they cannot be considered as suitable techniques for further stimulation of digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, new approaches for both in-vivo and in-silico methods for BPs identification should be developed to overcome the obstacles that belonged to the current methods. The purpose of this review was to compile the recent analytical methods applied for studying various aspects of food-derived biopeptides, and emphasizing generation at in vitro, in vivo, and in silico.

Fucoxanthin activities motivate its nano/micro-encapsulation for food or nutraceutical application: a review

Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid abundant in marine brown algae. The potential therapeutic effects of fucoxanthin on tumor intervention have been well documented, which have aroused great interests in utilizing fucoxanthin in functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, the utilization of fucoxanthin as a nutraceutical in food and nutrient supplements is currently limited due to its low water solubility, poor stability, and limited bioaccessibility. Nano/micro-encapsulation is a technology that can overcome these challenges. A systematic review on the recent progresses in nano/micro-delivery systems to encapsulate fucoxanthin in foods or nutraceuticals is warranted. This article starts with a brief introduction of fucoxanthin and the challenges of oral delivery of fucoxanthin. Nano/micro-encapsulation technology is then covered, including materials and strategies for constructing the delivery system. Finally, future prospective has been discussed on properly designed oral delivery systems of fucoxanthin for managing cancer. Natural edible materials such as whey protein, casein, zein, gelatin, and starch have been successfully utilized to fabricate lipid-based, gel-based, or emulsion-based delivery systems, molecular nanocomplexes, and biopolymer nanoparticles with the aid of advanced processing techniques, such as freeze-drying, high pressure homogenization, sonication, anti-solvent precipitation, coacervation, ion crosslinking, ionic gelation, emulsification, and enzymatic conjugation. These formulated nano/micro-capsules have proven to be effective in stabilizing and enhancing the bioaccessibility of fucoxanthin. This review will inspire a surge of multidisciplinary research in a broader community of foods and motivate material scientists and researchers to focus on nano/micro-encapsulated fucoxanthin in order to facilitate the commercialization of orally-deliverable tumor intervention products.

Bioactive peptides from food fermentation: A comprehensive review of their sources, bioactivities, applications, and future development

Bioactive peptides (BPs) are specific protein fragments that exert various beneficial effects on human bodies and ultimately influence health, depending on their structural properties and amino acid composition and sequences. By offering promising solutions to solve diverse health issues, the production, characterization, and applications of food-derived BPs have drawn great interest in the current literature and are of particular interest to the food and pharmaceutical industries. The microbial fermentation of protein from various sources is indubitably a novel way to produce BPs with numerous beneficial health effects. Apart from its lower cost as compared to enzymes, the BPs produced from microbial fermentation can be purified without further hydrolysis. Despite these features, current literature shows dearth of information on the BPs produced from food via microbial fermentation. Hence, there is a strong necessity to explore the BPs obtained from food fermentation for the development of commercial nutraceuticals and functional foods. As such, this review focuses on the production of BPs from different food sources, including the extensively studied milk and milk products, with emphasis on microbial fermentation. The structure-activity (antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, opiate-like, anti-inflammatory, anticancer/antiproliferative, antithrombotic, hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic, and mineral binding) relationship, potential applications, future development, and challenges of BPs obtained from food fermentation are also discussed.

Thrombosis and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Nutrition

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is a contagion that has rapidly spread around the globe. COVID-19 has caused significant loss of life and disrupted global society at a level never before encountered. While the disease was predominantly characterized by respiratory symptoms initially, it became clear that other systems including the cardiovascular and neurological systems were also involved. Several thrombotic complications were reported including venous thrombosis, vasculitis, cardiomyopathy, and stroke. Thrombosis and inflammation are implicated in various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This is of significant concern as people with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, renal disorders, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are at greater risk of severe COVID-19 infection. Consequently, the research surrounding the use of anticoagulants, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic strategies for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 is of critical importance. The adoption of a healthy diet, physical exercise, and lifestyle choices can reduce the risk factors associated with NCDs and the thrombo-inflammatory complications. In this review, these thrombotic complications and potential foods, nutraceuticals, and the antithrombotic constituents within that may prevent the onset of severe thrombotic complications as a result of infection are discussed. While nutrition is not a panacea to tackle COVID-19, it is apparent that a patient's nutritional status may affect patient outcomes. Further intensive research is warranted to reduce to incidence of thrombotic complications.

Health Promoting Bioactive Properties of Novel Hairless Canary Seed Flour after In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion

The bioactive properties and health-promoting effects of two novel yellow (C09052, C05041) and two brown (Calvi, Bastia) hairless canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L.) cultivars were investigated in comparison to two common cereal grains (wheat and oat). The cereal flours were digested using the standardized INFOGEST in vitro human gastrointestinal digestion model. The three-kilo dalton molecular weight cutoff (3 kDa MWCO) permeate of the generated digestates was assessed in vitro for their antioxidant, chelating, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities. The results showed no significant differences in studied bioactivities between yellow and brown canary seed cultivars, except for antioxidant activity by the DPPH and chelating Fe2+ assays, where brown cultivars had higher activities. Canary seeds had superior or equivalent antioxidant activity than those from oat and wheat. The anti-hypertensive activity (Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition) in yellow canary seed cultivars was significantly higher than that of oat and wheat, particularly for C09052 and Calvi varieties. Peptides exhibiting the highest antihypertensive activity from the permeate of the C09052 canary seed variety were further fractionated and identified by mass spectrometry. Forty-six peptides were identified belonging to 18 proteins from the Pooideae subfamily. Fourteen of the parent proteins were homologous to barley proteins. Peptides were analyzed in silico to determine potential bioactivity based on their amino acid composition. All 46 peptides had potential anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic activities and 20 had potential antioxidant activity, thereby validating the in vitro assay data. Canary seed peptides also exhibited potential antiamnestic, antithrombotic, immunostimulating, opioid and neuro-activity, demonstrating important potential for health promoting effects, particularly against cardiovascular disease.

COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has engulfed the world, affecting more than 180 countries. As a result, there has been considerable economic distress globally and a significant loss of life. Sadly, the vulnerable and immunocompromised in our societies seem to be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 complications. Global public health bodies and governments have ignited strategies and issued advisories on various handwashing and hygiene guidelines, social distancing strategies, and, in the most extreme cases, some countries have adopted "stay in place" or lockdown protocols to prevent COVID-19 spread. Notably, there are several significant risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. These include the presence of poor nutritional status and pre-existing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes mellitus, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), obesity, and various other diseases that render the patient immunocompromised. These diseases are characterized by systemic inflammation, which may be a common feature of these NCDs, affecting patient outcomes against COVID-19. In this review, we discuss some of the anti-inflammatory therapies that are currently under investigation intended to dampen the cytokine storm of severe COVID-19 infections. Furthermore, nutritional status and the role of diet and lifestyle is considered, as it is known to affect patient outcomes in other severe infections and may play a role in COVID-19 infection. This review speculates the importance of nutrition as a mitigation strategy to support immune function amid the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying food groups and key nutrients of importance that may affect the outcomes of respiratory infections.

Workflow towards the generation of bioactive hydrolysates from porcine products by combining in silico and in vitro approaches

Food-derived bioactive peptides have generated an increasing interest in the field of health and well-being research. They can act either against the metabolic syndrome, participate in regulating the oxidation balance or act on the immune system. The aim of this study is to develop a workflow to generate bioactive peptides from three porcine offals namely, heart, liver, and lung and one muscle the Longissimus Dorsi, by combining in silico and in vitro approaches. Bioinformatics tools (e.i. BIOPEP and Uniprot) permitted to orientate the choice of enzymes for generating abundant bioactive peptides from the four studied porcine products. With papain and subtilisin, the main bioactivities potentially released were ACE inhibitors, DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant peptides. An in vitro validation study using papain and subtilisin demonstrated high DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant bioactivities for the generation of peptides. This work allowed: i) the identification of all proteins that composed porcine heart, liver, lung and LD muscle that could be useful for the scientific community, ii) the development of a workflow to select most abundant proteins in a product while considering abundance factors and iii) the potential of porcine meat and offals to generate DPP4 inhibitors and antioxidant peptides. However, there is still a need in developing new tools in order to face limitations of mass spectrometry for the identification of peptides with less than six amino acids. Such a work may contribute to the development of the circular economy and the innovative creation of value-added products from animal production.

Sequence Identification of Bioactive Peptides from Amaranth Seed Proteins (Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp.)

Amaranthus hypochondriacus spp. is a commonly grown cereal in Latin America, known for its high protein content. The objective of this study was to separate and identify bioactive peptides found in amaranth seeds through enzymatically-assisted hydrolysis using alcalase and flavourzyme. Hydrolysis was carried out for each enzyme separately and compared to two-step continuous process where both enzymes were combined. The biological activity of the resulting three hydrolysates was analyzed, finding, in general, higher bioactive potential of the hydrolysate obtained in a continuous process (combined enzymes). Its fractions were separated by RP-HPLC, and their bioactivity was analyzed. In particular, two fractions showed the highest biological activity as ACE inhibitors with IC50 at 0.158 and 0.134, thrombin inhibitors with IC50 of 167 and 155, and antioxidants in ABTS assay with SC50 at 1.375 and 0.992 mg/L, respectively. Further sequence analysis of the bioactive peptides was carried out using MALDI-TOF, which identified amino acid chains that have not been reported as bioactive so far. Bibliographic survey allowed identification of similarities between peptides reported in amaranth and other proteins. In conclusion, amaranth proteins are a potential source of peptides with multifunctional activity.