A review on processing methods and functions of wheat germ-derived bioactive peptides

Unlocking the potential health improving properties of sprouted wheat

Sprouting can enhance the bioavailability and stimulate the production of health-promoting compounds. This research explored the potential health benefits of wheat sprouting, focusing on underexplored areas in existing literature such as alterations in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and glutathione levels during wheat sprouting. Furthermore, special attention was directed toward asparagine (Asn), the main precursor of acrylamide formation, as regulatory agencies are actively seeking to impose limitations on the presence of acrylamide in baked products. The results demonstrate elevated levels of PAL (4.5-fold at 48 h of sprouting), antioxidants, and total phenolics (1.32 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry matter at 72 h of sprouting), coupled with a reduction in Asn (i.e. 11-fold at 48 h of sprouting) and glutathione concentrations, after wheat sprouting. These findings suggest that sprouting can unlock health-promoting properties in wheat. Optimizing the sprouting process to harness these benefits, however, may have implications for the techno-functionality of wheat flour in food processing.

Recent progress in the preparation of bioactive peptides using simulated gastrointestinal digestion processes

Bioactive peptides (BAPs) represent a unique class of peptides known for their extensive physiological functions and their role in enhancing human health. In recent decades, owing to their notable biological attributes such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities, BAPs have received considerable attention. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGD) is a technique designed to mimic physiological conditions by adjusting factors such as digestive enzymes and their concentrations, pH levels, digestion duration, and salt content. Initially established for analyzing the gastrointestinal processing of foods or their constituents, SGD has recently become a preferred method for generating BAPs. The BAPs produced via SGD often exhibit superior biological activity and stability compared with those of BAPs prepared via other methods. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the recent advancements in BAP production from foods via SGD, addressing the challenges of the method and outlining prospective directions for further investigation.

Multidimensional analysis of wheat original crucial endogenous enzymes driving microbial communities metabolism during high-temperature Daqu fermentation

Knowledge of the metabolism of functional enzymes is the key to accelerate the transformation and utilization of raw materials during high temperature Daqu (HTD) manufacturing. However, the metabolic contribution of raw materials-wheat is always neglected. In this research, the relationship between the metabolism of wheat and microorganisms was investigated using physicochemical and sequencing analysis method. Results showed that the process of Daqu generation was divided into three stages based on temperature. In the early stage, a positive correlation was found between Monascus, Rhizopus and glucoamylase metabolism (r > 0.8, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the glucoamylase metabolism in wheat occupied 63.8 % of the total matrix at the day 4. In the middle to later stages, the wheat metabolism of proteases, α-amylases and lipases in gradually reached their peak. Additionally, Lactobacillus and α-amylases presented a positive correlation (r > 0.7, p < 0.05), and the α-amylases metabolism in wheat occupied 22.18 % of the total matrix during the same time period. More importantly, the changes of enzyme activity metabolic pathway in wheat and microorganism were reflected by respiratory entropy (RQ). Overall, these results guide the choice of substrate during Daqu production.

Bioactive peptides: an alternative therapeutic approach for cancer management

Cancer is still considered a lethal disease worldwide and the patients' quality of life is affected by major side effects of the treatments including post-surgery complications, chemo-, and radiation therapy. Recently, new therapeutic approaches were considered globally for increasing conventional cancer therapy efficacy and decreasing the adverse effects. Bioactive peptides obtained from plant and animal sources have drawn increased attention because of their potential as complementary therapy. This review presents a contemporary examination of bioactive peptides derived from natural origins with demonstrated anticancer, ant invasion, and immunomodulation properties. For example, peptides derived from common beans, chickpeas, wheat germ, and mung beans exhibited antiproliferative and toxic effects on cancer cells, favoring cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. On the other hand, peptides from marine sources showed the potential for inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. In this review we will discuss these data highlighting the potential befits of these approaches and the need of further investigations to fully characterize their potential in clinics.

Identification and target of action of cholecystokinin-releasing peptides from simulated digestion hydrolysate of wheat protein

BACKGROUND

Wheat protein intake leads to improved appetite control. However, the active components causing appetite in wheat have not been fully clarified. Gut cholecystokinin (CCK) plays a vital role in appetite control. This study aimed to investigate the ability of wheat protein digest (WPD) to stimulate CCK secretion and clarify the active components and target of action.

RESULTS

WPD was prepared by a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model. WPD treatment with a concentration of 5 mg mL-1 significantly stimulated CCK secretion in enteroendocrine STC-1 cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, oral gavage with WPD in mice significantly increased plasma CCK level at 60 min (P < 0.01). Preparative C18 column separation was used to isolate peptide fractions associated with CCK secretion and peptide sequences were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A new CCK-releasing peptide, RYIVPL, that potently stimulated CCK secretion was successfully identified. After pretreatment with a specific calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonist, NPS 2143, CCK secretion induced by WPD or RYIVPL was greatly suppressed, suggesting that CaSR was involved in WPD- or RYIVPL-induced CCK secretion.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that WPD has an ability to stimulate CCK secretion in vitro and in vivo, and determined that peptide RYIVPL in WPD could stimulate CCK secretion through CaSR. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cordycepin: A review of strategies to improve the bioavailability and efficacy

Cordycepin is a bioactive compound extracted from Cordyceps militaris. As a natural antibiotic, cordycepin has a wide variety of pharmacological effects. Unfortunately, this highly effective natural antibiotic is proved to undergo rapid deamination by adenosine deaminase (ADA) in vivo and, as a consequence, its half-life is shortened and bioavailability is decreased. Therefore, it is of critical importance to work out ways to slow down the deamination so as to increase its bioavailability and efficacy. This study reviews recent researches on a series of aspects of cordycepin such as the bioactive molecule's pharmacological action, metabolism and transformation as well as the underlying mechanism, pharmacokinetics and, particularly, the methods for reducing the degradation to improve the bioavailability and efficacy. It is drawn that there are three methods that can be applied to improve the bioavailability and efficacy: to co-administrate an ADA inhibitor and cordycepin, to develop more effective derivatives via structural modification, and to apply new drug delivery systems. The new knowledge can help optimize the application of the highly potent natural antibiotic-cordycepin and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Moringa oleifera Lam.: a comprehensive review on active components, health benefits and application

Moringa oleifera Lam. is an edible therapeutic plant that is native to India and widely cultivated in tropical countries. In this paper, the current application of M. oleifera was discussed by summarizing its medicinal parts, active components and potential mechanism. The emerging products of various formats such as drug preparation and product application reported in the last years were also clarified. Based on literature reports, the unique components and biological activities of M. oleifera need to be further studied. In the future, a variety of new technologies should be applied to the development of M. oleifera products, to enrich the varieties of dosage forms, improve the bitter taste masking technology, and make it better for use in the fields of food and medicine.

Extraction, bioactive function and application of wheat germ protein/peptides: A review

The aging population and high incidence of age-related diseases are major global societal issues. Consuming bioactive substances as part of our diet is increasingly recognized as essential for ensuring a healthy life for older adults. Wheat germ protein has a reasonable peptide structure and amino acid ratio but has not been fully utilized and exploited, resulting in wasted wheat germ resources. This review summarizes reformational extraction methods of wheat germ protein/peptides (WGPs), of which different methods can be selected to obtain various WGPs. Interestingly, except for some bioactive activities found earlier, WGPs display potential anti-aging activity, with possible mechanisms including antioxidant, immunomodulatory and intestinal flora regulation. However, there are missing in vitro and in vivo bioactivity assessments of WGPs. WGPs possess physicochemical properties of good foamability, emulsification and water retention and are used as raw materials or additives to improve food quality. Based on the above, further studies designing methods to isolate particular types of WGPs, determining their nutritional and bioactive mechanisms and verifying their activity in vivo in humans are crucial for using WGPs to improve human health.

An Insight into Wheat Germ Oil Nutrition, Identification of Its Bioactive Constituents and Computer-Aided Multidimensional Data Analysis of Its Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effect via Molecular Connections

Wheat germ oil (WGO) is the richest source of unexplored antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. In this study, we identified the constituents of WGO by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic behaviors were evaluated for the top 12 constituents with the common target FABP4. Three fatty acids with significant anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated for their interaction with FABP4 by molecular docking. The molecular mechanisms involved in anti-inflammatory responses were analyzed by various in-silico analytical tools and multidimensional data analysis. WGO showed anti-inflammatory activities via FABP4 interacting physically with target genes (77.84%) and by co-expressing with 8.01% genes. Primary targets for inflammatory pathways were PPARα, PPARγ, LPL, LEP, and ADIPOQ, as depicted by gene network enrichment analysis. The key pathways implicated were the metabolism of lipids, PPAR signaling, cellular response to alcohol, oxygen and nitrogen pathway, inflammatory response pathway, and regulation of the inflammatory pathway. The common transcription factors implicated were HNF1, AP2α, CEBP, FOX, STATS, MYC, Zic, etc. In this study, we found that WGO possesses anti-inflammatory potential via FABP4 binding to PPARα, PPARγ, LPL, LEP, and ADIPOQ gene expression by regulatory transcription factors HNF, AP2α, and CEPB.

A peptide from wheat germ abolishes the senile osteoporosis by regulating OPG/RANKL/RANK/TRAF6 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress played a key role in the development of bone brittleness and is an important pathogenic factor of senile osteoporosis. A variety of animal and plant-derived peptides have been shown to have significant anti-osteoporosis effects in vivo and in vitro.

PURPOSE

In this study, we aim to explore the possible mechanism of wheat germ peptide ADWGGPLPH on senile osteoporosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Naturally, aged rats were used as animal models of senile osteoporosis.

METHODS

Wheat germ peptide ADWGGPLPH was administered from 9-months-old to 21-months-old, and the effect of ADWGGPLPH on preventing senile osteoporosis was evaluated by measuring serum biochemical indexes, bone histomorphometry, bone biomechanics, and other indexes to elucidate the mechanism of ADWGGPLPH in delaying senile osteoporosis by detecting the expression of osteoporosis-related proteins.

RESULTS

The results showed that ADWGGPLPH could effectively reduce the level of oxidative stress and improve the microstructure and bone mineral density in senile osteoporosis rats. In addition, ADWGGPLPH could improve the proliferation and differentiation activity of osteoblasts and effectively inhibit osteoclasts' differentiation by regulating the OPG/RANKL/RANK/TRAF6 pathway.

CONCLUSION

ADWGGPLPH from wheat germ exhibited a notably effect on senile osteoporosis and has a high potential in the development of the nutrient regimen to against senile osteoporosis.