Characterization of Collagen Peptides in Elaphuri Davidiani Cornu Aqueous Extract with Proliferative Activity on Osteoblasts Using Nano-Liquid Chromatography in Tandem with Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

Multiomics Strategy Reveals the Mechanism of Action and Ameliorating Effect of Deer Velvet Antler Water Extracts on DSS-Induced Colitis

Velvet antler is a precious traditional Chinese medicine used for thousands of years. This study investigated the anti-colitis effects of water extracts of Formosan sambar deer (SVAE) and red deer (RVAE) to identify the possible mechanisms and the bioactive compounds using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The mechanism of action and the ameliorating effects of SVAE and RVAE on DSS-induced colitis were evaluated using a mouse model. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass/mass and gas chromatography-mass/mass were applied to identify the bioactive components of the SVAE and RVAE water extracts. The results revealed that both high-dose SVAE and RVAE could ameliorate the symptoms of colitis due to reduced systemic inflammatory responses, enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by restoration of tight junction proteins, and improved gut dysbiosis. The potentially bioactive components of SVAE and RVAE were identified as small molecules (<3 kDa). Further identification by untargeted metabolomics analysis suggested that l-carnitine, hypoxanthine, adrenic acid, creatinine, gamma-aminobutyric-lysine, oleic acid, glycine, poly-γ-glutamic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid in VAWEs might be involved in ameliorating the symptoms of colitis. This study provided evidence for the potential usage of SVAE and RVAE as anti-colitis agents.

Elaphuri Davidiani Cornu Improves Depressive-Like Behavior in Mice and Increases Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Mouse Primary Astrocytes via cAMP and ERK-Dependent Pathways

Elaphuri Davidiani Cornu (EDC) is the natural shedding horn of Elaphurus davidiauus Millne-Edwards that was used by people in ancient China for maintaining physical and mental health. We evaluated the antidepressant effect of EDC using depression-like animal models and explored possible mechanisms in mouse primary astrocyte cultures. We found that aqueous extracts of EDC significantly improved depression-like behavior in a mouse model of depression. The extracts enhanced expression of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor neurotrophic factors in mouse prefrontal cortex and hippocampus tissues. In the mouse primary astrocyte cultures, the EDC aqueous extracts significantly increased the neurotrophic factor expression both at the transcriptional and protein levels. EDC extracts might exhibit these functions by regulating matrix metalloprotein-9 of the nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor metabolic pathways and might enhance expression of neurotrophic factors via the cAMP- and ERK-dependent pathways. We confirmed this possibility by showing the effects of related inhibitors, providing scientific evidence that supports the utility of EDC in the development of drugs to treat major depressive disorders.

Repertoire of Structure-Activity-Based Novel Modified Peptides Elicits Enhanced Osteogenic Potential

Biologically active peptides in milk proteins can be used as effective dietary supplements for management of bone-associated issues including osteoporosis. A bioactive peptide derived from milk, viz. VLPVPQK/PepC, has been validated previously from our lab for its osteoanabolic action. In this study, we report 14 novel variants of PepC, designed in silico, based on the structure-activity relationship, aiming to enhance its osteogenic effect that holds tremendous therapeutic utility for bone-related injuries. PepC was computationally modified at seven positions of its original sequence, resulting in 14 modified synthetic peptides for functional predictions and in vitro assessment by comparative analysis of modified peptides by PepC for improved ability in osteogenic functional assays (proliferation potential, antioxidant ability, gene and protein expression, cytotoxic effect, bone mineralization) using calvarial osteoblasts. For most peptides with the highest Peptide7 response relative to PepC (p < 0.05), enhanced osteoanabolic response was observed. Further observations on Peptide7 have therefore been investigated in depth (qPCR, immunoblotting, LCMS/MS, and PCA analysis). Peptide7 displayed a rise in the expression of osteogenes (Osterix, Opg, Bmp2, and Runx2, p < 0.05) and protein (Runx2 and Bmp2, p < 0.05). Besides, LCMS/MS findings suggest Peptide7 escapes intestinal peptidases degradation. Experimental evidence supports an improved osteological reaction to newly modified peptides and hence exploitation in the preparation of functional foods or supplements.

Processing Optimization and Characterization of Angiotensin-Ι-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from Lizardfish (Synodus macrops) Scale Gelatin

Hypertension can cause coronary heart disease. Synthetic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are effective antihypertensive drugs but often cause side effects. The aim of this study was to prepare potential ACE inhibitors from scales. Gelatin was extracted from lizardfish scales. Then, scale gelatin was enzymolyzed to prepare ACE inhibitory peptides using response surface methodology. Proteolytic conditions after optimization were as follows: pH 7.0, enzyme substrate ratio 3.2%, temperature 47 °C, and proteolysis lasting 2 h and 50 min. The experimental ACE inhibitory activity under optimal conditions was 86.0 ± 0.4%. Among the 118 peptides identified from gelatin hydrolysates, 87.3% were hydrophilic and 93.22% had a molecular weight <2000 Da. Gelatin peptides had high stability upon exposure to high temperature and pH as well as gastrointestinal tract enzymes. Gelatin peptides showed an antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats at a dosage of 2 g/kg in the long-term experiments. A new ACE inhibitory peptide was isolated from gelatin hydrolysates, and was identified as AGPPGSDGQPGAK with an IC₅₀ value of 420 ± 20 μM. In this way, ACE inhibitory peptides derived from scale gelatin have the potential to be used as healthy ACE-inhibiting drug raw materials.