Bafang Li

A novel ACE inhibitory peptide isolated from Acaudina molpadioidea hydrolysate

Body wall protein from the sea cucumber (Acaudina molpadioidea) was hydrolyzed sequentially with bromelain and alcalase. The hydrolysate was fractionated into two ranges of molecular weight (PH-I, >2 kDa; PH-II, <2kDa) using an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system. The PH-II brought about a high angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. An ACE inhibitory peptide was isolated from the PH-II, using the chromatographic methods including gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified ACE inhibitory peptide was a novel peptide, showing very low similarity to other ACE inhibitory peptide sequences, and was sequenced as MEGAQEAQGD. It was found that the inhibitory activity of the peptide was intensified by 3.5 times from IC(50) 15.9 to IC(50) 4.5 microM after incubation with gastrointestinal proteases. The ACE inhibitory peptide from A. molpadioidea showed a clear antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), at a dosage of 3 microM/kg.

Effects of Collagen and Collagen Hydrolysate from Jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) on Mice Skin Photoaging Induced by UV Irradiation

Collagen (JC) was extracted from jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) and hydrolyzed to prepare collagen hydrolysate (JCH). The protective effects of JC and JCH against UV-induced damages to mice skin were evaluated and compared in this article. JC and JCH could alleviate the UV-induced abnormal changes of antioxidative indicators, including the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activities and the contents of glutathione (GSH) and malondiaidehyde (MDA). JC and JCH could protect skin lipid and collagen from the UV radiation damages. Furthermore, the changes of total ceramide and glycosaminoglycan in skin were recovered significantly by JC and JCH. The action mechanisms mainly involved the antioxidative properties and the repairing to endogenous collagen synthesis of JC and JCH in vivo. JCH with the lower molecular weight showed much higher effects than JC. The results indicated that JCH was a novel antiphotoaging agent from natural resources.

Optimization of antioxidant activity by response surface methodology in hydrolysates of jellyfish ( Rhopilema esculentum ) umbrella collagen

To optimize the hydrolysis conditions to prepare hydrolysates of jellyfish umbrella collagen with the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, collagen extracted from jellyfish umbrella was hydrolyzed with trypsin, and response surface methodology (RSM) was applied. The optimum conditions obtained from experiments were pH 7.75, temperature (T) 48.77 °C, and enzyme-to-substrate ratio ([E]/[S]) 3.50%. The analysis of variance in RSM showed that pH and [E]/[S] were important factors that significantly affected the process (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The hydrolysates of jellyfish umbrella collagen were fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and three fractions (HF-1>3000 Da, 1000 Da<HF-2<3000 Da, and HF-3<1000 Da) were collected. The HF-2 fraction had the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity with the highest yield compared with the other two fractions. Furthermore, HF-2 also showed the strongest Cu2+-chelating ability and the best tyrosinase-inhibitory activity.

Moisture absorption and retention properties, and activity in alleviating skin photodamage of collagen polypeptide from marine fish skin

Collagen polypeptides were prepared from cod skin. Moisture absorption and retention properties of collagen polypeptides were determined at different relative humidities. In addition, the protective effects of collagen polypeptide against UV-induced damage to mouse skin were evaluated. Collagen polypeptides had good moisture absorption and retention properties and could alleviate the damage induced by UV radiation. The action mechanisms of collagen polypeptide mainly involved enhancing immunity, reducing the loss of moisture and lipid, promoting anti-oxidative properties, inhibiting the increase of glycosaminoglycans, repairing the endogenous collagen and elastin protein fibres, and maintaining the ratio of type III to type I collagen.

Purification and identification of immunomodulating peptides from enzymatic hydrolysates of Alaska pollock frame

To prepare immunomodulating peptides from Alaska pollock frame (APF) hydrolysates, trypsin was employed for enzymatic hydrolysis, and the immunomodulating activities of the hydrolysates were studied using splenic lymphocytes proliferation assay. The highest activity of the hydrolysates was reached when DH ranged from 15% to 18%. The peptide fractions which exhibited the highest activity were further purified using ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and RP-HPLC. The peptides were identified using nano-LC-ESI mass spectrometry. Finally, three immunomodulating peptides were obtained, and the amino acid sequences were Asn-Gly-Met-Thr-Tyr, Asn-Gly-Leu-Ala-Pro, and Trp-Thr, respectively. The lymphocyte proliferation rates were 35.92%, 32.96%, and 31.35% in the presence of 20 μg/ml purified peptides, respectively. Therefore, the results demonstrated that the APF proteins hydrolysates prepared by trypsin could serve as a source of peptides with immunomodulating activity. It provided a scientific basis for the preparation of immunomodulating peptides.

Fractionation and identification of Alaska pollock skin collagen-derived mineral chelating peptides

Peptides with the ability to chelate dietary minerals have been reported to have potential as functional food ingredients. A collagen tryptic hydrolysate (CTH), previously shown to chelate iron, was further investigated for the presence of Ca, Fe and Cu chelating peptides. Sequential purification steps, including immobilised metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were employed for the separation of chelating peptides. GPC analysis showed that the mineral chelating peptides were mainly between 500 and 2000 Da. Subsequent identification was carried out using UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS. Overall, 10 sequences were identified as potential chelating peptides. The Ca, Fe and Cu chelating activity of GPAGPHGPPG was 11.52±2.23 nmol/μmol, 1.71±0.17 nmol/μmol and 0.43±0.02 μmol/μmol, respectively. This study identifies collagen as a good source of peptides with potential applications as functional ingredients in the management of mineral deficiencies.

A comparative study of antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities of different fucoidans from Laminaria japonica.

INTRODUCTION Fucoidans extracted from brown algae represent an intriguing group of natural fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharide, with excellent anticoagulant, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we compared antithrombotic activities of four fucoidan fractions with different molecular weight and sulfated ester content from Laminaria japonica in an electrical induced arterial thrombosis and their potential mechanism underlying such activity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS In vivo middle molecular weight (MMW) fucoidan fractions with molecular weight about 28000 and 35000 exhibited better antithrombotic activity in electrical induced arterial thrombosis than low molecular weight (LMW) fucoidan LF1 and LF2 (Mw 7600 and 3900). Inhibition of arterial thrombosis occurred at dose of 0.1-0.25mg/kg for MMW fucoidans, accompanied with moderate anticoagulant activity and significant decrease of whole blood viscosity and hematocrit. The antithrombotic effects of MMW Fucoidans might be related with promotion of TFPI content and decrease of TXB2 content, without affecting platelet aggregation and 6-keto-PGF1α content in vivo. In contrast, LMW fucoidans showed a correlation among anticoagulant, antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects in vivo. Antithrombotic action of LF1 and LF2 required high dose of 2.5-10mg/kg, concomitantly with anticoagulant activity and specific inhibition of platelet aggregation in vivo. Their antithrombotic effect might be related to their promotion of TFPI and 6-keto-PGF1α, down regulation of TXB2, without affecting hemorheology. These findings suggested that fucoidan fractions with different molecular weight acted on the antithrombotic action by different mechanism. By comparison, highly sulfated fucoidan LF2 with molecular weight of 3900 seemed to be a more suitable choice of antithrombotic drug for its antithrombotic activity accompanied with specific inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation, low anticoagulant activity and low hemorrhagic risk in vivo.

In vitro assessment of the multifunctional bioactive potential of Alaska pollock skin collagen following simulated gastrointestinal digestion

BACKGROUND Dietary mineral deficiency, hypertension and diabetes have become serious human health problems. Dietary approaches are increasingly being investigated to address these issues. Identification of food-derived biological peptides has become an important approach to control such diseases. Peptides generated from aquatic byproducts have been shown to possess biological activities. RESULTS Significantly higher copper-chelating activity was observed on simulated hydrolysis of intact collagen. The collagen hydrolysate generated in the gastric stage exhibited moderate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 2.92 ± 0.22 mg mL(-1), which significantly decreased to 0.49 ± 0.02 mg mL(-1) after intestinal digestion. The dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV-inhibitory potency of the collagen hydrolysate generated directly following simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) (IC50 2.59 ± 0.04 mg mL(-1)) was significantly lower than that of the collagen tryptic hydrolysate (CTH) (IC50 1.53 ± 0.01 mg mL(-1)). The antioxidant activities of collagen and CTH using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were 0.87 ± 0.10 and 1.27 ± 0.03 µmol Trolox equivalent (TE) g(-1) respectively after SGID. CONCLUSION This study identifies collagen as a good and inexpensive substrate for the generation of biologically active peptides with potential applications as functional ingredients in the management of chronic illness and mineral deficiency problems.

Antithrombotic activity of oral administered low molecular weight fucoidan from Laminaria Japonica

INTRODUCTION Fucoidans extracted from brown algae have been documented to have excellent antithrombotic activity when administered by either intravenous or subcutaneous route in animal models. However, it is unknown if the fucoidans also have antithrombotic activity when administered orally, a highly desirable feature of oral antithrombotic agents. In the present study, we compared the oral absorption, bioavailability and antithrombotic activity of two fucoidan fractions from Laminaria japonica with different molecular weight by oral administration in an electricity induced arterial thrombosis model and the underlying molecular mechanisms. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS After a single dose of oral administration, the fucoidan content in plasma and urine in rats was assessed using the reverse-phased HPLC analysis of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP)-labeled fucose. The fucose content in the low molecular weight (LMW) fucoidan-treated rats increased up to 2-fold and peaked at 15h, indicating that the LMW fucoidan had much better absorption and bioavailability than the MMW fucoidan in vivo. Oral administration of the LMW fucoidan at 400 and 800mg/kg for 30days inhibited the arterial thrombosis formation effectively induced by electrical shock in rats, accompanied by moderate anticoagulation activity, regulation on TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α, significant antiplatelet activity and effective fibrinolysis. The LMW fucoidan showed better oral absorption and antithrombotic activity in addition to different antithrombotic mechanisms compared to those of the medium molecular weight (MMW) fucoidan. Thus, the LMW fucoidan has a potential to become an oral antithrombotic agent.

Preparation of immunomodulatory hydrolysates from Alaska pollock frame

BACKGROUND Immunomodulatory peptides can enhance body immunity. There have been few systematic investigations on preparing immunomodulatory peptides from Alaska pollock frame. The aim of this study was to obtain such peptides from Alaska pollock frame and determine their properties. RESULTS Trypsin protein hydrolysate (TPH) significantly enhanced the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes, T cells and peritoneal macrophages (P < 0.05). Compared with TPH with molecular weight (MW) > 2 kDa, TPH with MW < 2 kDa showed higher lymphocyte proliferation activity at 10, 50 and 500 µg ml(-1). The optimised hydrolysis conditions were a temperature of 50 °C, an enzyme dose of 24 U mg(-1) and a time of 290 min. The proliferation rate and degree of hydrolysis were 28.45 ± 1.79% and 16.87 ± 0.15% respectively. The main amino acids in TPH were proline, aspartate, glutamic acid and leucine. TPH had high solubility and low viscosity. TPH showed high stability under both acid and alkaline conditions or when digested by trypsin and/or pepsin. CONCLUSION TPH showed high immunomodulatory activity, with molecular weight and amino acid composition being the important factors affecting this activity. TPH had high solubility, low viscosity and high stability. As a good immunomodulator, TPH may therefore have wide application.