Production and functionality of bioactive peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis from various sources

Bioactive peptides are ubiquitous biomolecules widely abundant and easily obtained from food proteins. Bioactive peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein and can be released by proteolytic enzymes during gastrointestinal digestion or during food processing. Once they are liberated in the body, bioactive peptides can affect numerous physiological functions of the organism such as antihypertensive agents or as opioid agonists or antagonists, immunomodulating, antithrombotic, antioxidative, anticancer,and antimicrobial activity. In this study, larvae of honey bee (Apis mellifera) were selected as a bioactive peptide source. Beekeeping products, as well as bee extracts, are also used in the treatment of inflammation, immune cystitis, cancer and other diseases in traditional medecine. Following homogenization bee larvae peptide hydrolysates prepared by hydrolysis with trypsin and/ or neutrase. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) was monitored after enzymatic hydrolysis. To obtain hydrolysates with high DH, E/S value and hydrolysis time were Furthermore biological potential of the protein hydrolysate was investigated by means of their DPP4, alpha-glucosidase and ACE inhibitory activities besides metal chelating and antioxidant ability. The findings of the study can be exploited in the development of bee larvae with special health claims as well as in identifying new applications in food.