Tânia G. Tavares

Invited review: Physiological properties of bioactive peptides obtained from whey proteins

Processing of whey proteins yields several bioactive peptides that can trigger physiological effects in the human body: on the nervous system via their opiate and ileum-contracting activities; on the cardiovascular system via their antithrombotic and antihypertensive activities; on the immune system via their antimicrobial and antiviral activities; and on the nutrition system via their digestibility and hypocholesterolemic effects. The specific physiological effects, as well the mechanisms by which they are achieved and the stabilities of the peptides obtained from various whey fractions during their gastrointestinal route, are specifically discussed in this review.

Novel whey-derived peptides with inhibitory effect against angiotensin-converting enzyme: in vitro effect and stability to gastrointestinal enzymes.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by proteases from the flowers of Cynara cardunculus, and the resulting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory effect was monitored. The whole WPC hydrolysate exhibited an IC(50) value of 52.9 ± 2.9 μg/mL, whereas the associated peptide fraction with molecular weight below 3 kDa scored 23.6 ± 1.1 μg/mL. The latter fraction was submitted to RP-HPLC, and 6 fractions were resolved that exhibited ACE-inhibitory effects. Among the various peptides found, a total of 14 were identified via sequencing with an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Eleven of these peptides were synthesized de novo--to validate their ACE-inhibitory effect, and also to ascertain their stability when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Among them, three novel, highly potent peptides were found, corresponding to α-lactalbumin f(16-26)--with the sequence KGYGGVSLPEW, α-lactalbumin f(97-104) with DKVGINYW, and β-lactoglobulin f(33-42) with DAQSAPLRVY; their IC(50) values were as low as 0.80 ± 0.1, 25.2 ± 1.0 and 13.0 ± 1.0 μg/mL, respectively. None of them remained stable in the presence of gastrointestinal enzymes: they were partially, or even totally hydrolyzed to smaller peptides--yet the observed ACE-inhibitory effects were not severely affected for two of those peptides.

Influence of native lactic acid bacteria on the microbiological, biochemical and sensory profiles of Serra da Estrela cheese

Cheesemaking from batches of raw ewes milk was carried out via inoculation with wild strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ESB110019 and Lactobacillus plantarum ESB5004 independently, or combined with each other. Those two strains had been isolated from the native microflora of typical Serra da Estrela cheese. One control batch was processed in parallel without addition of any starter. The evolution in viable counts of the main micro-organisms (viz. lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci and yeasts), as well as in secondary proteolysis (WSN, 2% TCASN, 12% TCASN and 5% PTASN), was monitored throughout ripening time (over a 63-day period) in cheeses from each batch. The sensory features of the fully ripened cheeses were also assessed. Cheeses manufactured with starter showed significantly lower levels of viable Enterobacteriaceae than those manufactured without starter; viable counts of enterococci and staphylococci did significantly increase after addition of L. lactis or Lb. plantarum, respectively. Proteolysis in terms of WSN and 5% PTASN was not significantly affected by the lactic acid bacteria tested when compared to the control, but L. lactis played a significant role toward increasing the 2% TCASN content of cheeses; both strains led to a statistically significant increase of the 12% TCASN. The scores for flavor and texture of the control cheeses were somewhat above those for the experimental cheeses manufactured with starter.

Acute effect of whey peptides upon blood pressure of hypertensive rats, and relationship with their angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity.

SCOPE The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypertensive effect of a peptide fraction (PepC) obtained from a whey protein concentrate following hydrolysis by Cynara cardunculus, as well as of its fraction with MW below 3 kDa (PepCF). Both these concentrates encompassed peptides that exhibited potent in vitro inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE): two were released from α-lactalbumin--KGYGGVSLPEW and DKVGINYW, and one from β-lactoglobulin--DAQSAPLRVY. METHODS AND RESULTS Upon oral administration, by gastric intubation, of 400 mg/kg body weight (bw) of those peptide concentrates, or 5 mg/kg bw of the corresponding synthetic peptides, to 12 wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were monitored by the tail-cuff method--before, and 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h afterwards. Water and zofenopril (5 mg/kg bw)--a known ACE-inhibitor, were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Acute administration of PepC, PepCF, KGYGGVSLPEW, DKVGINYW and DAQSAPLRVY caused antihypertensive effects in SHR; the maximum effect occurred by 4 h and 6 h after administration of the peptide concentrates and the synthetic peptides, respectively. PepC and KGYGGVSLPEW also showed ACE-inhibitory activity in vivo: the pressor effect of angiotensin I was significantly lower, and the response to bradykinin increased when the rats were pre-treated with either product. CONCLUSION Our results strongly suggest that PepC will be effective as nutraceutical ingredient for the formulation of functional foods aimed at hypertension control.

Bioactivity of probiotic whey cheese: Characterization of the content of peptides and organic acids

BACKGROUND Probiotic whey cheeses have been produced for several years. It is recognized that several bacterium-mediated metabolic activities contribute differently to the final sensory and nutritional profiles of dairy products. Hence the metabolic activity of probiotic strains in a whey cheese and their contribution to the bioactivity of such matrices were investigated here, including in particular Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei. RESULTS Both L. casei and B. animalis produce lactic and acetic acids, whereas L. acidophilus produce mainly lactic acid; these metabolites may be considered bioprotection factors. Water-soluble extracts (WSE) obtained from these cheese matrices were subjected to ultrafiltration through a 3 kDa cut-off membrane, and the eluted peptides were resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography. Different qualitative and quantitative profiles were obtained, depending on the strain. WSE were further assayed for their ability to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme; the <3 kDa fraction exhibited higher activities in the case of L. casei and B. animalis than the control and L. acidophilus. CONCLUSION Whey cheeses with higher nutritional value were those inoculated with L. casei.

Esterase activities of intracellular extracts of wild strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Serra da Estrela cheese

Abstract Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain ESB110019 and Lactobacillus plantarum strain ESB5004, novel strains that were previously isolated from the wild adventitious microflora of certified Serra da Estrela cheeses, were assayed for esterase activity using, as substrates, ortho - and para -nitrophenyl derivatives of fatty acids. Both strains preferentially hydrolyzed short-chain fatty acids; L. lactis ESB110019 exhibited a stronger esterase activity than Lb. plantarum ESB5004 and cleaved the p -nitrophenyl adducts faster than their o -nitrophenyl counterparts (unlike Lb. plantarum ESB5004).

Biological activities of peptide concentrates obtained from hydrolysed eggshell membrane byproduct by optimisation with response surface methodology

The increase of hen egg consumption demands profitable applications for eggshells, including their membranes, in order to minimize environmental and public health problems that could result from their accumulation. This work presents an innovative application for eggshell membranes to obtain an added-value food ingredient that combines maximized ACE-inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Firstly, the use of acetic acid 5% (v/v); and 3-mercaptopropionic acid 1.25 M enabled 63% recovery of eggshell membrane proteins. Secondly, the extracted proteins were hydrolysed by alcalase from Bacillus licheniformis, viscozyme L and protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Hydrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology experimental design. The ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50) was 34.5 ± 2.1 μg mL-1, 63.0 ± 4.2 μg mL-1 and 43.0 ± 8.5 μg mL-1 for each enzyme, respectively, and the antioxidant activity was ca. 4.0 μmoltrolox equivalent mg-1hydrolysed protein. The combination of both bioactive properties is of potential interest to control cardiovascular diseases.

Viability of dietary substitution of live microalgae with dry Ulva rigida in broodstock conditioning of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

ABSTRACT The current study evaluated the microalgae replacement by dry macroalgae (Ulva rigida) in the reproductive success and biochemical composition of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) during broodstock conditioning. Five nutritional regimes were tested: 100% macroalgae (diet 1), 50% macroalgae+50% microalgae (diet 2), 25% macroalgae+75% microalgae (diet 3) and 100% microalgae (diet 4). An unfed group was used as a negative control. The microalgae blend was composed of 33% Isochrysis galbana and 67% diatoms (75% Skeletonema costatum+25% Chaetoceros calcitrans). Gonadal maturation was reflected in the physiological condition of the individuals. All treatments, except diet 1, showed an increase in condition index and were fully matured at the end of the trial, with the best physiological condition observed in oysters fed diet 3 and diet 4. Protein and total lipid content increased during the conditioning period, whereas glycogen content decreased. Oysters conditioned with diet 3 had higher protein and total lipid content and lower glycogen content than the other treatments. In addition, diet 3 showed the highest percentage of viable veliger larvae. The current study demonstrated that it is possible to replace 25% of microalgae with macroalgae in the broodstock conditioning, minimizing the operative cost in bivalve hatcheries. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: The use of an alternative diet with 25% microalgae replacement by dry macroalgae is beneficial during broodstock conditioning and allows the operation costs of bivalve hatcheries to be minimized.

Whey and whey powders: fermentation of whey

Whey is a valuable material with regard to its constitution; however, its disposal is an important problem for the dairy industry, which demands simple and economic solutions. Because lactose is the major component of whey solids, it became interesting and promising to study the bioconversion of lactose components as a substrate for the production of valuable compounds by controlled fermentation processes. The most relevant of these compounds are bioethanol and single cell protein and oil (as the classical ones), organic acids (acetic, lactic, citric, etc.), biogas, biohydrogen, antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins), enzymes (β-galactosidase and polygalactorunase), bioplastics (polyhydroxyalcanoate and polylactate acid), exopolysaccharides and products obtained from hydrolyzed lactose.