Milk and Its Derivatives as Sources of Components and Microorganisms with Health-Promoting Properties: Probiotics and Bioactive Peptides

Milk is a source of many valuable nutrients, including minerals, vitamins and proteins, with an important role in adult health. Milk and dairy products naturally containing or with added probiotics have healthy functional food properties. Indeed, probiotic microorganisms, which beneficially affect the host by improving the intestinal microbial balance, are recognized to affect the immune response and other important biological functions. In addition to macronutrients and micronutrients, biologically active peptides (BPAs) have been identified within the amino acid sequences of native milk proteins; hydrolytic reactions, such as those catalyzed by digestive enzymes, result in their release. BPAs directly influence numerous biological pathways evoking behavioral, gastrointestinal, hormonal, immunological, neurological, and nutritional responses. The addition of BPAs to food products or application in drug development could improve consumer health and provide therapeutic strategies for the treatment or prevention of diseases. Herein, we review the scientific literature on probiotics, BPAs in milk and dairy products, with special attention to milk from minor species (buffalo, sheep, camel, yak, donkey, etc.); safety assessment will be also taken into consideration. Finally, recent advances in foodomics to unveil the probiotic role in human health and discover novel active peptide sequences will also be provided.

Screening of novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides derived from bovine milk proteins using a peptide array platform

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) has become an important target in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Although many DPP-IV inhibitory peptides have been identified by a general approach involving the repeated fractionation of food protein hydrolysates, the obtained results have been dependent on the content of each peptide and fractionation conditions. In the present study, a peptide array that provides comprehensive assays of peptide sequences was used to identify novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides derived from bovine milk proteins; these peptides were then compared with those identified using the general approach. While the general approach identified only known peptides that were abundant in the hydrolysate, the peptide array-based approach identified 10 novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, all of which had proline at the second residue from the N-terminus. The proper or combined use of these two approaches, which have different advantages, will enable the efficient development of novel bioactive foods and drugs.

A screening strategy for identifying umami peptides with multiple bioactivities from Stropharia rugosoannulata using in silico approaches and SPR sensing

Umami peptides from natural resources have garnered considerable attention for their potential bioactivities and flavor-enhancing characteristics. In this study, we constructed a database comprising 123 peptides from Stropharia rugosoannulata and screened for umami peptides with both angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities using online prediction tools and molecular docking, and further confirmed by SPR sensing, intelligent sensory and activities test. Five peptides with varying chain lengths were synthesized and by evaluations analyses they exhibited strong umami, with thresholds ranging from 0.105 mmol/L to 0.547 mmol/L. According to the targeted SPR molecular interaction analysis, umami peptides and hT1R3 receptor exhibited a "fast-on/fast-off" binding mode with stronger intensity and persistence than MSG. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that five peptides showed potent ACE and DPP-IV inhibitory activities. Notably, the EAF inhibitory activity was the most significant among the peptides. This comprehensive screening strategy provides a rapid approach for identifying high-sensitivity umami peptides with bioactivities.

An Update on Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibiting Peptides

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder. According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 537 million people are living with diabetes. The two types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), among which the population affected by T2DM is relatively higher. A major reason for T2DM is that insulin stimulation is hampered due to the inactivation of incretin hormones. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) is a serine protease that is directly involved in the inactivation of incretin hormones, e.g., glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Therefore, the inhibition of DPP-IV can be a promising method for managing T2DM, in addition to other enzyme inhibition strategies, such as inhibition of α-amylase and α -glucosidase. Currently, about 12 different gliptin drugs are available in the market that inhibit DPP-IV in a dose-dependent manner. Instead of gliptins, 'peptides' can also be employed as an alternative and promising way to inhibit DPP-IV. Peptide inhibitors of DPP-IV have been identified from various plants and animals. Chemically synthesized peptides have also been experimented for inhibiting DPP-IV. Most peptides have been analysed by biochemical assays, whereas some in vitro assays have also been reported. Molecular docking analysis has been applied to comprehend the mechanism of inhibition. In this review, certain aspects of natural as well as synthetic peptides are described that have been proven to inhibit DPP-IV.

Whey protein hydrolysates improve high-fat-diet-induced obesity by modulating the brain-peripheral axis of GLP-1 through inhibition of DPP-4 function in mice

PURPOSE

Obesity is a growing global health concern. Recent literature indicates a prominent role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in glucose metabolism and food intake. The synergistic action of GLP-1 in the gut and brain is responsible for its satiety-inducing effect, suggesting that upregulation of active GLP-1 levels could be an alternative strategy to combat obesity. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is an exopeptidase known to inactivate GLP-1, suggesting that its inhibition could be a crucial strategy for effectively extending the half-life of endogenous GLP-1. Peptides derived from partial hydrolysis of dietary proteins are gaining traction due to their inhibitory activity on DPP-4.

METHODS

Whey protein hydrolysate from bovine milk (bmWPH) was produced using simulated in situ digestion, purified using RP-HPLC, and characterized for DPP-4 inhibition. The antiadipogenic and antiobesity activity of bmWPH was then studied in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and high-fat diet-induced obesity (HFD) mice model, respectively.

RESULTS

The dose-dependent inhibitory effect of bmWPH on the catalytic activity of DPP-4 was observed. Additionally, bmWPH suppressed adipogenic transcription factors and DPP-4 protein levels, leading to a negative effect on preadipocyte differentiation. In an HFD mice model, co-administration of WPH for 20 weeks downregulated adipogenic transcription factors, resulting in a concomitant reduction in whole body weight and adipose tissues. Mice fed with bmWPH also showed a marked reduction in DPP-4 levels in WAT, liver, and serum. Furthermore, HFD mice fed with bmWPH exhibited increased serum and brain GLP levels, which led to a significant decrease in food intake.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, bmWPH reduces body weight in HFD mice by suppressing appetite through GLP-1, a satiety-inducing hormone, in both the brain and peripheral circulation. This effect is achieved through modulation of both the catalytic and non-catalytic activity of DPP-4.

Chemical and biological characterization of the DPP-IV inhibitory activity exerted by lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) peptides: From the bench to the bedside investigation

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is considered a key target for the diabetes treatment, since it is involved in glucose metabolism. Although lupin protein consumption shown hypoglycemic activity, there is no evidence of its effect on DPP-IV activity. This study demonstrates that a lupin protein hydrolysate (LPH), obtained by hydrolysis with Alcalase, exerts anti-diabetic activity by modulating DPP-IV activity. In fact, LPH decreased DPP-IV activity in a cell-free and cell-based system. Contextually, Caco-2 cells were employed to identify LPH peptides that can be intestinally trans-epithelial transported. Notably, 141 different intestinally transported LPH sequences were identified using nano- and ultra-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Hence, it was demonstrated that LPH modulated the glycemic response and the glucose concentration in mice, by inhibiting the DPP-IV. Finally, a beverage containing 1 g of LPH decreased DPP-IV activity and glucose levels in humans.

Purification and characterization of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory peptides from eel (Anguilla rostrata) scraps enzymatic hydrolysate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious threat to human health. Owing to the action of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), the half-life of entero-insulin hormone after secretion is extremely short, causing insufficient insulin secretion in diabetic patients. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors can be used as a new treatment for T2DM. In this study, the proteins of eel (Anguilla rostrata) scraps hydrolyzed using Protamex protease (EPHs) were found to have strong DPP-IV inhibitory activity. The study also provided research ideas for the development and utilization of A. rostrata scraps.

RESULTS

The median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀ ) value of EPHs was 5.455 ± 0.24 mg mL^-1 . The peptide fractions with the highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity were sequentially separated by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography (GFC), and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) in a continuous hierarchical manner and analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/ time-of-flight mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS). Three peptides that revealed significant inhibitory activity were screened among the identified sequences, with sequences of Phe-Pro-Arg (IC₅₀  = 62.14 ± 1.47 μM), Tyr-Pro-Pro-Ser-Phe-Ser (IC₅₀  = 102.65 ± 4.57 μM), and Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Pro-Ala-Ser (IC₅₀  = 68.30 ± 3.85 μM). Molecular docking simulations revealed that their inhibitory effect was mainly due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues in the active sites of DPP-IV. Analysis of the inhibition patterns of the synthetic peptides displayed that Phe-Pro-Arg and Tyr-Pro-Pro-Ser-Phe-Ser displayed competitive inhibition, whereas Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Pro-Ala-Ser showed mixed competitive/non-competitive inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

The protein hydrolysates isolated from eel scraps are potential functional food ingredients for the treatment of T2DM. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Tenebrio molitor Proteins-Derived DPP-4 Inhibitory Peptides: Preparation, Identification, and Molecular Binding Mechanism

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is an effective way to control blood glucose in diabetic patients. Tenebrio (T.) molitor is an edible insect containing abundant protein. T. molitor protein-derived peptides can suppress the DPP-4 activity. However, the amino acid sequence and binding mechanism of these DPP-4 inhibitory peptides remain unclear. This study used the flavourzyme for T. molitor protein hydrolysis, identified the released peptides with DPP-4 inhibitory effect, and investigated the binding interactions of these peptides with DPP-4. The results showed that flavourzyme efficiently hydrolyzed the T. molitor protein, as demonstrated by the high degree of hydrolysis, disappearance of protein bands in SDS-PAGE, and changes to protein structure. The 4-h flavourzyme hydrolysates showed a good inhibitory effect on DPP-4 (IC₅₀ value of 1.64 mg/mL). The fragment of 1000-3000 Da accounted for 10.39% of the total peptides, but showed the strongest inhibitory effect on DPP-4. The peptides LPDQWDWR and APPDGGFWEWGD were identified from this fraction, and their IC₅₀ values against DPP-4 were 0.15 and 1.03 mg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking showed that these two peptides interacted with the DPP-4 active site via hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, salt bridge formation, π-cation interactions, and π-π stacking. Our findings indicated that T. molitor protein-derived peptides could be used as natural DPP-4 inhibitors.

Critical Review for the Production of Antidiabetic Peptides by a Bibliometric Approach

The current bibliometric review evaluated recent papers that researched dietary protein sources to generate antidiabetic bioactive peptides/hydrolysates for the management of diabetes. Scopus and PubMed databases were searched to extract bibliometric data and, after a systematic four-step process was performed to select the articles, 75 papers were included in this review. The countries of origin of the authors who published the most were China (67%); Ireland (59%); and Spain (37%). The journals that published most articles on the subject were Food Chemistry (n = 12); Food & Function (n = 8); and Food Research International (n = 6). The most used keywords were ‘bioactive peptides’ (occurrence 28) and ‘antidiabetic’ (occurrence 10). The most used enzymes were Alcalase^® (17%), Trypsin (17%), Pepsin, and Flavourzyme^® (15% each). It was found that different sources of protein have been used to generate dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides. In addition to antidiabetic properties, some articles (n = 30) carried out studies on multifunctional bioactive peptides, and the most cited were reported to have antioxidant and antihypertensive activities (n = 19 and 17, respectively). The present review intended to offer bibliometric data on the most recent research on the production of antidiabetic peptides from dietary proteins to those interested in their obtention to act as hypoglycemic functional ingredients. The studies available in this period, compiled, are not yet enough to point out the best strategies for the production of antidiabetic peptides from food proteins and a more systematic effort in this direction is necessary to allow a future scale-up for the production of these possible functional ingredients.

Food-derived dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory peptides: Production, identification, structure-activity relationship, and their potential role in glycemic regulation

Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides are attracting increasing attention, owing to their potential role in glycemic regulation by preventing the inactivation of incretins. However, few reviews have summarized the current understanding of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides and their knowledge gaps. This paper reviews the production, identification and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. Importantly, their bioavailability and hypoglycemic effects are critically discussed. Unlike the traditional method to identifying peptides after separation step by step, the bioinformatics approach identifies peptides via virtual screening that is more convenient and efficient. In addition, the bioinformatics approach was also used to investigate the SAR of peptides. Peptides with proline (Pro) or alanine (Ala) residue at the second position of N-terminal are exhibit strong DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Besides, the bioavailability of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides is related to their gastrointestinal stability and cellular permeability, and in vivo studies showed that the glucose homeostasis has been improved by these peptides. Especially, the intestinal transport of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides and cell biological assays used to evaluate their potential role in glycemic regulation are innovatively summarized. For further successful development of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides in glycemic regulation, future study should elucidate their SAR and in vivo hypoglycemic effects .

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.

Chemical characterization and DPP-IV inhibitory activity evaluation of tripeptides from Gynura divaricata (L.) DC

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gynura divaricata (L.) DC. (GD), a herbal medicine, has been used for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemia in China. However, hypoglycemic ingredients within GD have not yet been well studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to explore undiscovered compounds with dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity within GD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A four-step strategy was developed to explore undiscovered DPP-IV inhibitors within GD. First, the components were preliminarily characterized using UHPLC-HRMS combined with a library search. Second, preliminarily characterized compounds were searched for potential bioactivity. Third, a mixture of these preliminarily characterized compounds was isolated and thoroughly characterized based on fragmentation patterns associated with molecular networking. Fourth, the activities of these compounds were verified using DPP-IV inhibitory assay and molecular docking.

RESULTS

Diprotin A, a tripeptide inhibitor against DPP-IV, was identified. Thereafter, a mixture of twenty-five diprotin A analogs was isolated and characterized, which exhibited IC₅₀ of 0.40 mg/mL for DPP-IV. Molecular docking results also confirmed the interactions between the tripeptide analogs and DPP-IV mainly via H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of DPP-IV inhibitors within GD. These findings demonstrate that the extract of GD might be beneficial for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is expected to promote further development and utilization of GD in herbal medicine.

The effects of different protease treatments on the techno-functional, structural, and bioactive properties of bovine casein

In this study, bovine sodium caseinate (NaCas) was hydrolyzed with four proteases, alcalase, savinase, subtilisin A, and flavourzyme. In addition to the structural changes occurred through the enzymatic hydrolysis, the solubility, oil binding capacity, zeta potential, emulsification properties, and in vitro antioxidant capacity, anti-carcinogenic and antidiabetic properties of hydrolysates were determined. FTIR combined with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) made in Amide I region enable to classification of the samples based on the changes of the secondary structure depending on the enzyme type and degree of fragmentation. Technological properties of NaCas were enhanced through the enzymatic hydrolysis, and those were more prominent in serine-type enzymes, regardless of the enzyme type, all hydrolysates showed high antioxidant capacities. All hydrolysates, specifically those produced by savinase and alcalase, reduced the viability of the carcinogenic Caco-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and showed a very low level of cytotoxicity against healthy HEK-293 cells. The hydrolysis treatment made a significant contribution to the antidiabetic activity of NaCas. Particularly alcalase and savinase hydrolysates suppressed the activity of α- amylase and α- glucosidase. Therefore, the generated milk protein hydrolysates could be used in functional food developments for specific dietary purposes.

Bovine α-lactalbumin-derived peptides attenuate TNF-α-induced insulin resistance and inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through inhibiting JNK and NF-κB signaling

Bioactive peptides in bovine α-lactalbumin were isolated and identified, and the effects and mechanisms of peptide KILDK on insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were investigated. Mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were stimulated with TNF-α to induce insulin resistance. Bovine α-lactalbumin hydrolysates (α-LAH) were subjected to stimulated gastrointestinal digestion and Caco-2 absorption, and GD-α-LAH and CA-α-LAH were obtained. Our results demonstrated that α-LAH, GD-α-LAH, and CA-α-LAH increased glucose uptake, enhanced Akt phosphorylation (Ser473), and decreased IRS-1 phosphorylation (Ser307) in insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Gel filtration chromatography and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI MS/MS) were used to separate and identify bioactive peptides. The identified peptide KILDK attenuated insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was attributed to the suppression of JNK phosphorylation (Thr183/Tyr185). Moreover, KILDK downregulated pro-inflammatory genes through blocking NF-κB signaling. Our findings suggested that bovine α-LAH might be a potential ingredient against insulin resistance.

The Role of Bovine and Non-Bovine Milk in Cardiometabolic Health: Should We Raise the "Baa"?

Although causality is yet to be confirmed, a considerable volume of research has explored the relationships between cow milk consumption, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Contrastingly, it has not been comprehensively examined whether milk of non-bovine origin can provide cardiometabolic protection. This narrative review outlines the marked differences in macronutrient composition, particularly protein and lipid content, and discusses how whole milk product (and individual milk ingredients) from different species could impact cardiometabolic health. There is some data, although primarily from compositional analyses, animal studies, and acute clinical trials, that non-bovine milk (notably sheep and goat milk) could be a viable substitute to cow milk for the maintenance, or enhancement, of cardiometabolic health. With a high content of medium-chain triglycerides, conjugated linoleic acid, leucine, and essential minerals, sheep milk could assist in the prevention of metabolic-related disorders. Similarly, albeit with a lower content of such functional compounds relative to sheep milk, goat and buffalo milk could be plausible counterparts to cow milk. However, the evidence required to generate nutritional recommendations for ‘non-bovine milk’ is currently lacking. Longer-term randomised controlled trials must assess how the bioactive ingredients of different species’ milks collectively influence biomarkers of, and subsequently incidence of, cardiometabolic health.

Discovery and functional mechanism of novel dipeptidyl peptidase Ⅳ inhibitory peptides from Chinese traditional fermented fish (Chouguiyu)

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from fermented foods exhibit great potential to alleviate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, the DPP-IV inhibition activity of peptide extract from Chouguiyu was obviously enhanced after 4–8 d fermentation. A total of 125 DPP-IV inhibitory peptides in Chouguiyu were identified by peptidomics and were obtained from 46 precursor proteins, mainly including nebulin, titin, muscle-type creatine kinase, hemoglobin, and actin. After molecular docking with DPP-IV, four novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides possessing the lowest docking energy were selected, including EPAEAVGDWR (D37), IPHESVDVIK (D22), PDLSKHNNHM (D35), and PFGNTHNNFK (D1). The DPP-IV inhibition activity of D37, D22, D35, and D1 were further verified after synthesis with the IC₅₀ of 0.10 mM, 2.69 mM, 3.88 mM, and 8.51 mM, respectively, in accordance with their docking energies. Energy interaction showed that the structures of EP-, IPH-, -NHM, and PF- in these peptides were easy to connect with DPP-IV enzyme through hydrogen bond, salt bridge, and alkyl. The surface force including the H-bond interaction, hydrophobicity, aromatic interaction, and SAS, played a major role in the interaction between DPP-IV enzyme and peptides. The peptides that possess high hydrophobicity and can form strong hydrogen bond and salt bridge are potential DPP-IV inhibitory peptides using for T2DM remission.

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DPP-Ⅳ inhibition activity of peptide extract in Chouguiyu increased by fermentation.

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The main precursor proteins of DPP-Ⅳ inhibitory peptides were nebulin and titin.

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Inhibition mechanism was explored by energy interaction and surface force.

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Docking energy was an effective index to select DPP-IV inhibitory peptides.

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DPP-IV inhibitory peptides formed hydrogen bond and salt bridge with DPP-IV.

Exploring the DPP-IV Inhibitory, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Ovine "Scotta" Hydrolysates

The aim of this work was to valorize the by-product derived from the ricotta cheese process (scotta). In this study, ovine scotta was concentrated by ultrafiltration and then subjected to enzymatic hydrolyses using proteases of both vegetable (4% E:S, 4 h, 50 °C) and animal origin (4% E:S, 4 h, 40 °C). The DPP-IV inhibitory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of hydrolysates from bromelain (BSPH) and pancreatin (PSPH) were measured in vitro. Both the obtained hydrolysates showed a significantly higher DPP-IV inhibitory activity compared to the control. In particular, BSPH proved to be more effective than PSPH (IC₅₀ 8.5 ± 0.2 vs. 13 ± 1 mg mL⁻¹). Moreover, BSPH showed the best antioxidant power, while PSPH was more able to produce low-MW peptides. BSPH and PSPH hydrolysates showed a variable but slightly inhibitory effect depending on the species or strain of bacteria tested. BSPH and PSPH samples were separated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). LC-MS/MS analysis of selected GPC fractions allowed identification of differential peptides. Among the peptides 388 were more abundant in BSPH than in the CTRL groups, 667 were more abundant in the PSPH group compared to CTRL, and 97 and 75 of them contained sequences with a reported biological activity, respectively.

Purification, identification and molecular mechanism of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory peptides from discarded shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) head

DPP-IV plays a key role for regulation of glucose metabolism in the body. The object of this study was to obtain DPP-IV inhibitors from discarded but protein-rich Penaeus vannamei (P. vannamei) head, and to explore the potential mechanism between DPP-IV and its inhibitors. P. vannamei head protein was hydrolyzed by five food grade proteases, respectively. The animal protease hydrolysate showed the highest inhibitory active. Then the hydrolysate was sequentially separated by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), the peptides sequences were identified by LC-MS/MS and four potential peptides YPGE, VPW, HPLY, YATP showed superior DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Meanwhile, molecular docking effectively explored their mechanism through formed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic regions. The four peptides showed better DPP-IV inhibitory activity stability with heating treatment, pH (1-10) treatment, and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Our results demonstrated that the protein hydrolysate from discarded P. vannamei head can be considered as a promising natural source of DPP-IV inhibitor for helping to improve glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes.

An evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials of camel and donkey milk peptides released from casein and whey proteins

In this study, some biological activities including antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and CUPRAC assay), DPP-IV enzyme inhibitory activity, and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity of peptides released from in vitro gastrointestinal digested casein and the whey proteins of camel and donkey milk were evaluated. While the highest antioxidant activity was determined to be in the digested camel casein fraction using the ABTS and CUPRAC methods, the digested donkey casein fraction was determined to have the highest radical scavenging activity using the DPPH method. The highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity was detected in digested camel and donkey milk casein fractions. Digested whey fractions of camel and donkey milk had a lower DPP-IV inhibitory activity compared to the digested casein fractions. However, digested whey fractions of camel and donkey milk did not show α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and digested donkey casein fraction showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with a 12.5 µg/mL IC₅₀ value. It was concluded that peptides released from digested casein fraction of camel and donkey milk have potent antioxidant and particularly antidiabetic properties.

Anti-hyperuricemic and nephroprotective effects of whey protein hydrolysate in potassium oxonate induced hyperuricemic rats

BACKGROUND

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a serious public health concern globally that needs to be solved. It is closely related to gout and other metabolic diseases. To develop a safe and effective dietary supplementation for alleviating HUA, we investigated the effects of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) on HUA and associated renal dysfunction and explored their underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

Potassium oxonate was used to induce HUA in model rats, who were then administered WPH for 21 days. The results showed that WPH significantly inhibited xanthine oxidase and adenosine deaminase activity in serum and liver, decreased uric acid (UA), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels in serum, and increased the UA excretion in urine. In addition, WPH downregulated the expression of urate transporter 1 and upregulated the expression of organic anion transporter 1, adenosine triphosphate binding cassette subfamily G member 2, organic cation/carnitine transporters 1 and 2, and organic cation transporter 1 in kidneys.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated for the first time that WPH could alleviate HUA by inhibiting UA production and promoting UA excretion, and improve the renal dysfunction caused by HUA. Thus, WPH may be a potential functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of HUA and associated renal dysfunction. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characteristics of Food Protein-Derived Antidiabetic Bioactive Peptides: A Literature Update

Diabetes, a glucose metabolic disorder, is considered one of the biggest challenges associated with a complex complication of health crises in the modern lifestyle. Inhibition or reduction of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), alpha-glucosidase, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) enzyme activities or expressions are notably considered as the promising therapeutic strategies for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Various food protein-derived antidiabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and verified. This review provides an overview of the DPP-IV, PTP-1B, and α-glucosidase inhibitors, and updates on the methods for the discovery of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides released from food-protein hydrolysate. The finding of novel bioactive peptides involves studies about the strategy of separation fractionation, the identification of peptide sequences, and the evaluation of peptide characteristics in vitro, in silico, in situ, and in vivo. The potential of bioactive peptides suggests useful applications in the prevention and management of diabetes. Furthermore, evidence of clinical studies is necessary for the validation of these peptides’ efficiencies before commercial applications.

Bioactive peptide release and the absorption tracking of casein in the gastrointestinal digestion of rats

Bovine casein is considered as an important source of many bioactive peptides (BAPs), which can also be produced via in vitro simulated gastrointestinal hydrolysis. To perform their physiological functions, some active peptides need to pass through the intestinal epithelial barrier and keep their structural integrity after oral administration. Owing to the complexity of in vivo digestion and absorption, there have been few studies in this area. In this study, casein was labeled with FITC to trace its digestion and absorption in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Gastric juice, intestinal fluid, blood, and intestinal tissue samples were collected at different time-points for preservation and analysis after intragastric administration. The results showed that CN-FITC exhibited good labeling stability in the gastrointestinal digestive juice both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting its potential to be used for the detection and tracking of casein hydrolysate. After the intra-gastric administration of FITC, the diffusion rates of fluorescent substances in serum were much higher than in the CN-FITC group. The maximum peptide content in the CN-FITC group during intestinal digestion was achieved 2 h after administration, and electrophoretic analysis of the hydrolysate composition suggested that the molecular weights of the peptides were mainly concentrated in the range of 3.4-10 kDa. The hydrolyzed peptides from CN-FITC could be absorbed into the blood just 1 h after administration. Frozen sections of rat duodenal tissue were observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope, and they showed that the CN-FITC digested products were absorbed from villi to mucosa in the rat intestines, and the casein-hydrolyzed polypeptides were accumulated significantly in tissue samples 2 h after administration. The peptides were mainly absorbed in the duodenum on the basis of absorption experiments using an everted gut sac. After intestinal digestion for 2 h, peptides with weights less than 5 kDa were enriched and identified using LC-MS-MS, and they were found to be mainly derived from β-casein, containing potential angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory, antioxidant, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory, and morphine-like peptides. The peptides from casein hydrolysate were tracked entering the blood through the intestinal epithelial barrier in the form of complete fragments, and they might exert potential physiological activity in vivo.

Novel Umami Peptide IPIPATKT with Dual Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activities

A novel umami peptide, IPIPATKT, showed excellent dual dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities, the IC₅₀ values were 64 and 265 μM, respectively. Molecular docking displayed that IPIPATKT was docked into the S1 and S2 pockets of ACE, and it was close to the active site pocket of DPP-IV. The insulin-resistant-HepG2 (IR-HepG2) cell model and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model showed that the peptide significantly increased the content of glucose, the activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and the concentration of nitric oxide (p < 0.01), while it reduced the content of endothelin-1 (ET-1). IPIPATKT exhibited a hypotensive effect (-23.5 ± 2.2 mmHg) and attenuated the increase in glucose levels in vivo, as demonstrated using spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) and C57BL/6N mice. We reported the in vivo activities of the umami peptide with dual hypertensive and hypoglycemic effects for the first time.

Anti-glycemic potential of benzophenone thio/semicarbazone derivatives: synthesis, enzyme inhibition and ligand docking studies

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) has been identified as a promising approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, development of DPP-IV inhibitors with new chemical scaffold is of utmost importance to medicinal chemistry. In the present study, we identified benzophenone thio- and semicarbazone scaffolds as novel DPP-IV inhibitors. For that purpose, benzophenone thio- and semicarbazone were synthesized through a 2-step reaction. These newly synthetic derivatives were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques, including HREI-MS and NMR. whereas stereochemistry of the iminic bond was predicted by NOESY experiments. Thio- and semicarbazones derivatives were evaluated for their DPP-IV inhibitory potential and found to exhibit a good to moderate enzyme inhibitory activity. Most active and non-cytotoxic derivatives were further evaluated for their DPP-IV inhibitory potential in in cellulo model. The binding sites as well as affinity of active compounds for DPP- IV enzyme were predicted by in silico studies, and compared to a standard drug, sitagliptin. Pharmacophore studies of thio- and semicarbazones derivatives 1-29 suggest that substitution of aryl group, particularly a lipophilic substituents at C-4″ of benzene ring, and a hydroxyl at C-4' strongly influenced the DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Compound 9 showed the highest inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 15.0 ± 0.6 µM), whereas compounds 10, 17, 12, 14 and 23 showed a moderate activity with IC₅₀ values in the range of 28.9-39.2 µM. This study identifies thio- and semicarbazones as new classes of DPP-IV inhibitors which may translate into safe and effective therapeutics for a better management of type 2 diabetes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Separation, identification and molecular binding mechanism of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory peptides derived from walnut (Juglans regia L.) protein

Walnut protein was hydrolyzed with different proteases to evaluate the hydrolytic efficiency and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity in vitro. All of walnut protein hydrolysates (WPHs) exhibited DPP-IV inhibitory activity and Alcalase-derived hydrolysate (WPH-Alc) with better DPP-IV inhibitory activity of 33.90% (at 0.50 mg/mL) was subsequently separated by ultrafiltration and cation exchange chromatography on a SP Sephadex C-25 column. The results showed that fractions with lower molecular weight and higher basic amino acid residues possessed stronger DPP-IV inhibitory activity. Comparably, the obtained fraction B with the yield of 19.80% had the highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity of 76.19% at 0.25 mg/mL. Moreover, nine novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Molecular docking revealed the peptides could interact with DPP-IV through hydrogen bonds, salt bridges, hydrophobic interactions, π-cation bonds and π-π bonds. The walnut DPP-IV inhibitory peptides showed better stability with heating treatment, pH treatment, or in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Exploring Potential Bioactive Peptides in Fermented Bactrian Camel's Milk and Mare's Milk Made by Mongolian Nomads

To date, bioactive proteins and peptides from minor livestock milks and their fermented products have been scarcely reported. In Mongolia, nomads are commonly rearing five livestock animal species (i.e., cow, camel, goat, horse, and sheep) for milking and other purposes. In this study, we analyzed the peptide composition in fermented milks of Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) and horses, produced by Mongolian nomads for self-consumption. Peptides from skimmed fermented milks were separated by ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, their amino acid sequences were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Consequently, eleven peptides were identified in the fermented camel’s milk including four from β-casein (β-CN), three from α_s1-CN, and two from both κ-CN and lactophorin. On the other hand, twenty-four peptides were identified in the fermented mare’s milk including nineteen from β-CN, three from α_s1-CN, and one from both κ-CN and α_s2-CN. According to previous reports on the bioactivities of milk-derived peptides, antibacterial and antihypertensive activities were promising in both the fermented camel’s milk and mare’s milk. In addition, potential antioxidant activity was conjectured in the fermented camel’s milk. Further investigations are currently needed to clarify the potential role of immunomodulatory peptides in the two fermented milks.

Investigation of beta-lactoglobulin derived bioactive peptides against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): In silico analysis

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which started in late 2019 in Wuhan, China spread to the whole world in a short period of time, and thousands of people have died due to this epidemic. Although scientists have been searching for methods to manage SARS-CoV-2, there is no specific medication against COVID-19 as of yet. Two main approaches should be followed in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2; one of which is to neutralize the virus, and the other is to inhibit the host cell membrane receptors, where SARS-CoV-2 will bind. In this study, peptides derived from beta-lactoglobulin, which inactivates both the virus and its receptors in the host cell, were identified using computer-based in silico analysis. The beta-lactoglobulin derived peptides used in this study were obtained by the treatment of goat milk whey fraction with trypsin. The structure of the peptides was characterized by the liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS), and six beta-lactoglobulin derived peptides were selected as candidate peptides. Subsequently, the effects of peptides on SARS-CoV-2 and host cells were identified using virtual screening. According to the results of this in silico analysis, Ala-Leu-Pro-Met-His-Ile-Arg (ALMPHIR) and Ile-Pro-Ala-Val-Phe-Lys (IPAVFK) peptides were evaluated as potential candidates to be used in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 after the future in vitro and in vivo studies.

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This in silico study used a hypothesis-driven peptidomics strategy.

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The beta-lactoglobulin derived peptides have potential effects against SARS-CoV-2.

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ALMPHIR and IPAVFK are potential candidates among these peptides.

Characteristics of Biopeptides Released In Silico from Collagens Using Quantitative Parameters

The potential of collagens to release biopeptides was evaluated using the BIOPEP-UWM-implemented quantitative criteria including the frequency of the release of fragments with a given activity by selected enzyme(s) (AE), relative frequency of release of fragments with a given activity by selected enzyme(s) (W), and the theoretical degree of hydrolysis (DHt). Cow, pig, sheep, chicken, duck, horse, salmon, rainbow trout, goat, rabbit, and turkey collagens were theoretically hydrolyzed using: stem bromelain, ficin, papain, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin+trypsin, and pepsin+trypsin+chymotrypsin. Peptides released from the collagens having comparable AE and W were estimated for their likelihood to be bioactive using PeptideRanker Score. The collagens tested were the best sources of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors. AE and W values revealed that pepsin and/or trypsin were effective producers of such peptides from the majority of the collagens examined. Then, the SwissTargetPrediction program was used to estimate the possible interactions of such peptides with enzymes and proteins, whereas ADMETlab was applied to evaluate their safety and drug-likeness properties. Target prediction revealed that the collagen-derived peptides might interact with several human proteins, especially proteinases, but with relatively low probability. In turn, their bioactivity may be limited by their short half-life in the body.

Current Trends of Bioactive Peptides-New Sources and Therapeutic Effect

Generally, bioactive peptides are natural compounds of food or part of protein that are inactive in the precursor molecule. However, they may be active after hydrolysis and can be transported to the active site. Biologically active peptides can also be synthesized chemically and characterized. Peptides have many properties, including antihypertensive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulant, and chelating effects. They are also responsible for the taste of food or for the inhibition of enzymes involved in the development of diseases. The scientific literature has described many peptides with bioactive properties obtained from different sources. Information about the structure, origin, and properties of peptides can also be found in many databases. This review will describe peptides inhibiting the development of current diseases, peptides with antimicrobial properties, and new alternative sources of peptides based on the current knowledge and documentation of their bioactivity. All these issues are part of modern research on peptides and their use in current health or technological problems in food production.

Identification of novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) skin

The aim of this study was to identify dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from salmon skin collagen hydrolysate, and to evaluate the possible inhibition mechanism of DPP-IV and peptide. Salmon skin collagen was hydrolyzed by pepsin, trypsin, papain, or Alcalase 2.4 L, separately. Trypsin hydrolysate (10 mg/mL) showed the highest inhibitory activity of 66.12 ± 0.68%. The hydrolysate was separated into three fractions by ultrafiltration, and the inhibitory IC₅₀ of M1 (molecular weight <3 kDa) was 1.54 ± 0.06 mg/mL. M1 was separated by gel chromatography and RP-HPLC; A10 was the highest inhibitory fraction in the 12 fractions, i.e., IC₅₀ was 0.79 ± 0.13 mg/mL. A novel peptide LDKVFR with the IC₅₀ value of 0.1 ± 0.03 mg/mL (128.71 μM) was identified from A10. Molecular docking revealed that six hydrogen bonds and eight hydrophobic interactions between LDKVFR and DPP-IV were contributed to DPP-IV inhibition.

β-lactolin, a whey-derived glycine-threonine-tryptophan-tyrosine lactotetrapeptide, improves prefrontal cortex-associated reversal learning in mice

Dementia and cognitive decline have become worldwide public health problems. We have previously reported that a whey-derived glycine-threonine-tryptophan-tyrosine peptide, β-lactolin, improves hippocampus-dependent memory functions in mice. The supplementation with a whey digest rich in β-lactolin improves memory retrieval and executive function in a clinical trial, but the effect of β-lactolin on prefrontal cortex (PFC)-associated cognitive function was unclear. Here we examined the effect of β-lactolin and the whey digest on PFC-associated visual discrimination (VD) and reversal discrimination (RD) learning, using a rodent touch panel-based operant system. β-Lactolin and the whey digest significantly improved the RD learning, and the whey digest enhanced the response latency during the VD task, indicating that β-lactolin and the whey digest improve PFC-associated cognitive functions. Given the translational advantages of the touch panel operant system, consumption of β-lactolin in daily life could be beneficial for improving human PFC-associated cognitive function, helping to prevent dementia.

Discovery of Food-Derived Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitory Peptides: A Review

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder which leads to high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes and results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Over ten dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory drugs have been developed and marketed around the world in the past decade. However, owing to the reported adverse effects of the synthetic DPP-IV inhibitors, attempts have been made to find DPP-IV inhibitors from natural sources. Food-derived components, such as protein hydrolysates (peptides), have been suggested as potential DPP-IV inhibitors which can help manage blood glucose levels. This review focuses on the methods of discovery of food-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, including fractionation and purification approaches, in silico analysis methods, in vivo studies, and the bioavailability of these food-derived peptides. Moreover, food-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides discovered during this decade are listed and distributed in a 3D scatter plot graph based on their IC₅₀, molecular weight, and grand average of hydropathicity values, which can help us to understand the relationship between the features of the peptides and their activities.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory properties of a camel whey protein enriched hydrolysate preparation

Camel milk proteins contain dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides. A camel whey protein concentrate (WPC, 44.7 ± 3.4% (w/w) protein) was prepared and subsequently hydrolysed with trypsin at different temperatures, enzyme to substrate (E:S) ratios and hydrolysis times yielding fifteen hydrolysates (H1-H15). Their DPP-IV half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) ranged from 0.55 ± 0.05 to 1.52 ± 0.16 mg L^-1 for H8 and H6, respectively. E:S was the only factor having a significant effect on the DPP-IV IC₅₀ value (p < 0.05). Relatively potent α-lactalbumin-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides (LAHKPL and ILDKEGIDY) were detected in selected hydrolysates. Additionally, three potent β-CN-derived peptides, VPV, YPI and VPF having DPP-IV IC₅₀ values of 6.6 ± 0.5, 35.0 ± 2.0 and 55.1 ± 5.8 µM, respectively, were identified. After IPI, VPV is the second most potent DPP-IV inhibitory peptide identified to date, which supports the role of camel milk as an antidiabetic agent.

Features of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from dietary proteins

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is involved in incretin hormone processing and therefore plays a key role in glycemic regulation. This review summarizes the latest developments in food protein-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. The in silico approaches currently used to develop targeted strategies for the enzymatic release of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from food proteins are outlined. The features within the primary sequences of potent DPP-IV inhibitory di-, tri-, and larger peptides, having half maximal inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ ) < 100 µM, were evaluated and the outcomes are presented herein. It is proposed that detailed analysis of those food derived peptides identified in humans following ingestion may constitute a practical strategy for the targeted identification of novel bioavailable DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. Human intervention studies are required as the specific role of food protein-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides in the regulation of glycaemia in humans remains to be fully elucidated. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides recent information on dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides arising from food protein hydrolysates. Small animal studies have demonstrated that food protein hydrolysates with in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory properties also display antidiabetic activity. DPP-IV inhibitory peptides may be used as food ingredients to improve glycemic regulation in Type 2 diabetics. Therefore, the development of potent DPP-IV inhibitory hydrolysates containing bioavailable peptides in humans is of significant interest. This may help in the formulation of foods containing physiologically relevant doses of bioactive hydrolysates/peptides. Acquisition of detailed knowledge of DPP-IV inhibitory peptide features via the utilization of in silico tools may help to optimize the release of potent DPP-IV inhibitory peptides during enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins. This review provides information on features within the primary sequences of potent DPP-IV inhibitory peptides and current in silico strategies which may be used to inform on the targeted enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins.