Release of Bioactive Peptides from Erythrina edulis (Chachafruto) Proteins under Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion

Abstract

The estimated and concerning rise in world population over the next few years and the consequent increase in food demand will lead to a deterioration in global food security. To avoid or reduce this world crisis, informed and empowered consumers are turning to sustainable and nutrient-rich foods that substitute animal products, also reducing their associated environmental impact. Moreover, due to the demonstrated influence of diet on the risk of high incidence and mortality of noncommunicable diseases, the current established food pattern is focused on the consumption of foods that have functionality for health. Among these new foods, traditional and underutilized plants are gaining interest as alternative protein sources providing nutritional and biological properties. In this work, the potential of Erythrina edulis (chachafruto) proteins as a source of multifunctional peptides after transit through the gastrointestinal tract has been demonstrated, with antioxidant and immunostimulating effects in both biochemical assays and cell culture. While low molecular weight peptides released during the digestive process were found to be responsible for protection against oxidative stress mediated by their radical scavenging activity, high molecular weight peptides exerted immunostimulating effects by upregulation of immunoresponse-associated biomarkers. The findings of this study support the promising role of chachafruto proteins as a new antioxidant and immunostimulatory ingredient for functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Contribution of Proteins and Peptides to the Impact of a Soy Protein Isolate on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation-Associated Biomarkers in an Innate Immune Cell Model

“…This behavior suggests that at low doses, the antioxidant compounds in the LPI fraction surpassed the potential pro-oxidant activity of the other compounds also present in the fraction. Similarly, low doses of Erythrina edulis protein digest and its >10 kDa fraction showed antioxidant activity in this cell model, while high doses showed pro-oxidant effects [ 48 ].…”

“…Previous works have also described the NO-inducing properties of peptides from other food sources, although these controversial results preclude the association of immunostimulatory effects with a specific range of molecular weights. Thus, while Li and coworkers [ 52 ] reported the ability of the <3 kDa peptide fraction from Tricholoma matsutake water extract to induce NO production by basal macrophages, Correa et al did not find any effect for low-molecular-weight peptides released from pajuro protein under simulated gastrointestinal digestion [ 48 ]. The peptides isolated from Anguilla anguilla also stimulated NO release by basal RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent way, although the responsible sequences were not identified [ 53 ].…”