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SummaryCorn peptide (CP) was prepared from corn gluten meal by proteolysis with alkaline protease from alkalophilic Bacillus A-7. Free amino acids were not found in the CP product. Gel filtration on a Shodex OH-packed column revealed that the molecular weight distribution of the CP was less than about 2,000, characteristic of dipeptides to decapeptides, i.e. oligopeptides. The amino acid pattern of CP was similar to that of corn gluten meal, which was rich in alanine and branched-chain amino acids, but poor in basic amino acids. The effect of the CP administration on alcohol metabolism was examined with SHR-SP, which were given ethanol orally through a gastric tube at the rate of 1.0g/kg. Prior administration of CP at 1.0g/kg resulted in fast disappearance of ethanol and its oxidative product acetaldehyde from the blood relative to the control without administration. Hence, it is suggested that CP, rather than its constituent amino acids such as alanine and proline, effectively takes part in enhancing the metabolism of ethanol as well as acetaldehyde.

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SummaryThe effect of long-term `corn peptide (CP)' ingestion on alcohol metabolism was investigated in stroke-prone spontaneously hyper tensive rats (SHR-SP) with alcohol loading. Long-term CP ingestion in the EtOH/CP group did not significantly increase plasma GOT and GPT activities but markedly increased hepatic ADH and ALDH activities. Intragastric CP administration prior to a dose of 1.0 g/kg ethanol signifi cantly lowered the blood ethanol concentration in SHR-SP which had been loaded with ethanol for a long time. Compared with non-loaded SHR-SP (control group), the rats loaded for a long time with ethanol (EtOH group) showed high concentrations of taurine, glycine and histi dine in the plasma. The plasma threonine and proline concentrations were significantly elevated by long-term CP ingestion (EtOH/CP group), but the plasma alanine concentration was rather decreased. These results suggest that short or long-term CP ingestion may enhance the alcohol metabolism within the body because of an increase in ADH and ALDH activities as well as the alleviation of alcohol-related hepatic injury.