Anti-Cancer Activity of Maize Bioactive Peptides

Abstract

Cancer is one of the main chronic degenerative diseases worldwide. In recent years, consumption of whole-grain cereals and their derivative food products has been associated with a reduced risk of various types of cancer. The main biomolecules in cereals include proteins, peptides, and amino acids, all of which are present in different quantities within the grain. Some of these peptides possess nutraceutical properties and exert biological effects that promote health and prevent cancer. In this review, we report the current status and advances in knowledge regarding the bioactive properties of maize peptides, such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and anti-tumor activities. We also highlight the potential biological mechanisms through which maize bioactive peptides exert anti-cancer activity. Finally, we analyze and emphasize the potential applications of maize peptides.

A Comprehensive Review of Corn Protein‐derived Bioactive Peptides: Production, Characterization, Bioactivities, and Transport Pathways

“…Cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity worldwide, and the amount of cancer cases and deaths has been found to increase rapidly as populations grow and age along with lifestyle risk factors (Torre, Siegel, Ward, & Jemal, ). Bioactive peptides have shown promising potential to inhibit numerous cancer cells at different stages, including initiation, promotion, and progression (Díaz‐Gómez, Castorena‐Torres, Preciado‐Ortiz, & García‐Lara, ). Anticancer peptides have been identified in a broad variety of plant‐derived proteins, such as amaranth (Barrio & Anon, ), lunasin from soybean antagonizing skin cancer (Hernández‐Ledesma, Hsieh, & de Lumen, ), a pentapeptide (Glu‐Gly‐Arg‐Pro‐Arg) from rice bran against colon cancer cells (Kannan, Hettiarachchy, Lay, & Liyanage, ), and rapeseed peptide specifically against morphological changes and DNA damage in HeLa cells (Xue, Liu, Wu, Zhuang, & Yu, ) as well as some animal‐derived proteins such as algae protein (Sheih, Fang, Wu, & Lin, ), anchovy protein (Y. G. Lee, Kim, Lee, Kim, & Lee, ), and peptides from tuna dark muscle against human breast cancer cells (Hsu, Li‐Chan, & Jao, ).…”

Modulation of Aleurone Peroxidases in Kernels of Insect-Resistant Maize (Zea mays L.; Pob84-C3R) After Mechanical and Insect Damage

“…Such enzymes have been described in studies of water-soluble (albumins/globulins) fractions of maize kernel proteins (García-Lara et al, 2007;Winkler and García-Lara, 2010;López-Castillo et al, 2015, 2018a). Yet, because these protein fractions represent less than 5% of the total grain protein (Wang et al, 2008;Díaz-Gómez et al, 2017), kernel PODs are not abundant (López-Castillo et al, 2015). Moreover, endosperm-soluble PODs are confined in aleurone layers (García-Lara et al, 2007;López-Castillo et al, 2018a).…”

The Maize Contribution in the Human Health

“…The functional food concept encompasses natural or processed food products that contain biologically active compounds, which may or may not be nutrients. Together, these molecules must have the capacity to promote health benefits, preventing or aiding in the treatment of chronic diseases, in nontoxic quantities that can be included in a daily diet [11]. As an example of the above, the consumption of fish that provide omega fatty acids can be mentioned; also, the consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber, as well as other foods added with biologically active substances such as antioxidants and probiotics [12].…”

“…In 2015, Mexican researchers conducted a study with extracts of phenolic acids and blue corn anthocyanins, measuring their anticancer properties in breast, liver, colon, and prostate cancer cell lines; results indicated an antiproliferative effect in all cell lines, in which malonyl glucoside cyanidin was the anthocyanin with the greatest reduction in cell viability [28]. It has also been shown that the bioactive peptides of corn exert antitumor activity through key mechanisms such as (a) the induction of apoptosis mediated through specific proteases or caspases; strategies to overcome tumor resistance to apoptotic pathways include the activation of pro-apoptotic receptors, the restoration of p53 activity, the modulation of caspases, and the inhibition of the proteasome; (b) blocking the intermediate generation of tumors by regulating cellular mechanisms associated with cell proliferation and survival, or biosynthetic pathways that control cell growth; and (c) regulation of immune system functions, increasing the expression of antigens associated with the tumor (antigenicity) in cancer cells, activating the tumor cells for them to release warning signals that stimulate the immune response (immunogenicity), or increasing the predisposition of the tumor cells to be recognized and neutralized by the immune system (susceptibility) by means of autophagy and apoptosis [63]. The possible therapeutic use of corn peptide is still limited, since the bioavailability of these molecules depends on their capacity to remain active and intact elements during the digestive process, and the probability of reaching the general circulation to exert their physiological effects.…”