Evaluation of bamboo shoot peptide preparation with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant abilities from byproducts of canned bamboo shoots

A Review of the Nutritional Composition, Storage Challenges, Processing Technology and Widespread Use of Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo shoots, as the young bamboo stems, are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as many bioactive substances beneficial to health, and are gaining in importance worldwide as a healthy food and dietary supplement. However, fresh bamboo shoots lignify rapidly after harvesting and contain cyanogenic glycosides, limiting the safe and healthy consumption of bamboo shoots. To this end, based on the changes in nutritional composition and the physiological properties of fresh and post-harvest bamboo shoots, factors affecting the preservation of post-harvest bamboo shoots are emphasized, including a series of physical and chemical regimes and various processing methods for post-harvest preservation. Furthermore, a systematic biorefinery approach for using bamboo shoot processing residue to prepare value-added products is also discussed. Finally, the article also discusses issues related to sustainable development, safeguarding food security, and addressing potential health impacts in order to provide a scientific basis for researchers to further develop and increase the added value of bamboo shoots.

The Relationship between Resistant Hypertension and Advanced Glycation End-Product Levels Measured Using the Skin Autofluorescence Method: A Case-Control Study

Resistant hypertension is hypertension that cannot be controlled despite the use of three antihypertensive drugs, one of which is a diuretic. Resistant hypertension often coexists with advanced age, obesity, smoking, and diabetes. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are substances that are generated as a result of the glycation of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids due to conditions such as hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia. There are studies showing the relationships between AGE levels and aortic stiffness, hypertension, and microvascular and macrovascular complications in diabetes. In our study, we examined the relationship between resistant hypertension and AGE levels. Our study was planned as a case-control study, and 88 patients with resistant hypertension were included in the focus group, while 88 patients with controlled hypertension were included in the control group. The AGE levels of the patients were measured using the skin autofluorescence method. AGE levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with resistant hypertension than those recorded in the control group. A significant increase in AGE levels was also observed in patients with resistant hypertension and without diabetes compared with the control group. The levels of AGEs, which can be measured cheaply, noninvasively, and quickly with the skin autofluorescence method, may provide benefits in identifying these patients with resistant hypertension.

Curcumin Nanoemulsion: Unveiling Cardioprotective Effects via ACE Inhibition and Antioxidant Properties in Hypertensive Rats

Background and Objectives: Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa, is a well-known traditional medicinal compound recognized for its therapeutic attributes. Nevertheless, its efficacy is hampered by limited bioavailability, prompting researchers to explore the application of nanoemulsion as a potential alternative. Materials and Methods: This study delves into the antihypertensive effects of curcumin nanoemulsion (SNEC) by targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and oxidative stress in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-induced hypertensive rats. To gauge the cardio-protective impact of SNEC in DOCA salt-induced hypertension, molecular docking was undertaken, uncovering curcumin's high affinity and adept binding capabilities to the active site of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Additionally, the investigation employed uninephrectomized rats to assess hemodynamic parameters via an AD instrument. Serum ACE, angiotensin II, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels were quantified using ELISA kits, while antioxidant parameters were evaluated through chemical assays. Result: The outcomes of the molecular docking analysis revealed robust binding of curcumin to the ACE active site. Furthermore, oral administration of SNEC significantly mitigated systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure in contrast to the DOCA-induced hypertensive group. SNEC administration also led to a reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and an elevation in the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (LV (dP/dt) max). Moreover, SNEC administration distinctly lowered serum levels of ACE and angiotensin II compared to the hypertensive DOCA group. Renal markers, including serum creatinine and BUN, displayed a shift toward normalized levels with SNEC treatment. Additionally, SNEC showcased potent antioxidant characteristics by elevating reduced glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels, while decreasing the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings underscore that curcumin nanoemulsion exerts noteworthy cardio-protective effects through ACE activity inhibition and remarkable antioxidant properties.

Egg White and Yolk Protein Atlas: New Protein Insights of a Global Landmark Food

(1) Background: The chicken egg is an animal product of great agronomic interest. The egg white and yolk constitute high-quality protein sources for humans with high digestibility and well-balanced amino acid profiles. Despite the egg white and yolk protein's undisputed value, research to unravel their full proteome content and its properties is still ongoing. We aimed to exhaustively analyze the proteome of egg white and yolk by applying intrinsic proteomics and bioinformatics approaches in order to unravel the full protein potential of this landmark food. (2) Methods: A total of 45 freshly laid, unfertilized, chicken eggs were subjected to nanoLC-MS/MS Orbitrap analysis following a peptide pre-fractionation step. A comprehensive bioinformatics processing step was undertaken towards elucidating potential activities and roles of identified molecules. In parallel, the literature was mined concerning all reported egg white and yolk protein identifications. (3) Results: Our analysis revealed 371 and 428 new proteins, reported for the first time to be present in the egg white and yolk, respectively. From the bioactivity standpoint, egg white and yolk proteins showed high enrichment for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes, while exerting high relevance for the apoptosis and focal adhesion pathways. (4) Conclusions: Egg white and yolk proteins exert diverse and multifaceted properties. A total of 799 proteins were reported for the first time as being part of the egg and yolk. Our novel protein data enriched those already published in the literature and the first ever chicken egg white and yolk Protein Atlas, comprising 1392 protein entries, was generated. This dataset will provide a cornerstone reference for future studies involving egg proteins.

Neurogenic Hypertension, the Blood-Brain Barrier, and the Potential Role of Targeted Nanotherapeutics

Hypertension is a major health concern globally. Elevated blood pressure, initiated and maintained by the brain, is defined as neurogenic hypertension (NH), which accounts for nearly half of all hypertension cases. A significant increase in angiotensin II-mediated sympathetic nervous system activity within the brain is known to be the key driving force behind NH. Blood pressure control in NH has been demonstrated through intracerebrovascular injection of agents that reduce the sympathetic influence on cardiac functions. However, traditional antihypertensive agents lack effective brain permeation, making NH management extremely challenging. Therefore, developing strategies that allow brain-targeted delivery of antihypertensives at the therapeutic level is crucial. Targeting nanotherapeutics have become popular in delivering therapeutics to hard-to-reach regions of the body, including the brain. Despite the frequent use of nanotherapeutics in other pathological conditions such as cancer, their use in hypertension has received very little attention. This review discusses the underlying pathophysiology and current management strategies for NH, as well as the potential role of targeted therapeutics in improving current treatment strategies.

A peptide fraction from hardened common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) induces endothelium-dependent antihypertensive and renal effects in rats

Beans reached the research spotlight as a source of bioactive compounds capable of modulating different functions. Recently, we reported antioxidant and oxidonitrergic effect of a low molecular weight peptide fraction (<3 kDa) from hardened bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in vitro and ex vivo, which necessitate further in vivo assessments. This work aimed to evaluate the hypotensive effect and the involved physiological mechanisms of the hardened common bean peptide (Phaseolus vulgaris) in normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) animals. Bean flour was combined with a solution containing acetonitrile, water and formic acid (25: 24: 1). Protein extract (PV3) was fractioned (3 kDa membrane). We assessed PV3 effects on renal function and hemodynamics of wistar (WT-normotensive) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and measured systemic arterial pressure and flow in aortic and renal beds. The potential endothelial and oxidonitrergic involvements were tested in isolated renal artery rings. As results, we found that PV3: I) decreased food consumption in SHR, increased water intake and urinary volume in WT, increased glomerular filtration rate in WT and SHR, caused natriuresis in SHR; II) caused NO- and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in renal artery rings; III) reduced arterial pressure and resistance in aortic and renal vascular beds; IV) caused antihypertensive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Current findings support PV3 as a source of bioactive peptides and raise the potential of composing nutraceutical formulations to treat renal and cardiovascular diseases.

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic data provide insights into gene networks associated with lignification in postharvest Lei bamboo shoots under low temperature

Lei bamboo (Phyllostachys violascens) shoots are delicious food in Asia. Here, the molecular basis of lignification in postharvest Lei bamboo shoots under low temperature (LT) is revealed by transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses for the first time. We identified substantial accumulations of jasmonates (JAs) and major lignin biosynthesis precursors (coumarin, trans-4-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid and L-phenylalanine). Transcriptome analysis indicated that some regulatory genes were significantly differentially expressed, and the expression patterns of them were highly consistent with the changes in the key lignin precursors or JA profiles. Co-expression analysis showed that the LT responsive genes PvCRPK-4/-5, PvICE2-1/2, PvDREB2B might form a network module with the lignin (PvC3H-2/3, PvC4H-2/4, PvCAD-1/2/3/4, etc.) or JA biosynthesis genes (PvOPR2, PvJAZ-4 and PvPEX5, etc.), indicating a LT-lignification or LT-JA-lignification regulatory pathway in Lei bamboo shoots. Above all, our findings provide new an insight into the LT-associated lignification in postharvest bamboo shoots.

Manufacturing of Plant-Based Bioactive Peptides Using Enzymatic Methods to Meet Health and Sustainability Targets of the Sustainable Development Goals

Due to the rapid growth in the global population, the consumption of animal-based food products/food compounds has been associated with negative implications for food sustainability/security. As a result, there is an increasing demand for the development of plant-based food and compounds as alternatives. Meanwhile, a growing number of studies report the health benefits of food protein-based peptides prepared via enzymatic hydrolysis and exhibiting biological properties such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-thrombotic, and antidiabetic activities. However, the inherent bitterness of some peptides hinders their application in food products as ingredients. This article aims to provide the latest findings on plant-based bioactive peptides, particularly their health benefits, manufacturing methods, detection and qualification of their bitterness properties, as well as debittering methods to reduce or eliminate this negative sensory characteristic. However, there is still a paucity of research on the biological property of debittered peptides. Therefore, the role of plant protein-derived bioactive peptides to meet the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals can only be realised if advances are made in the industrial-scale bioprocessing and debittering of these peptides.

Current trends and perspectives of bioactive peptides

The remarkable growth of therapeutic peptide development in the past decade has led to a large number of market approvals and the market value is expected to hit $25 billion by 2018. This significant market increase is driven by the increasing incidences of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and technological advancements in peptide synthesis. For this reason, the search for bioactive peptides has also increased exponentially. Many bioactive peptides from food and nonfood sources have shown positive health effects yet, obstacles such as the need to implement efficient and cost-effective strategies for industrial scale production, good manufacturing practices as well as well-designed clinical trials to provide robust evidence for supporting health claims continue to exist. Several other factors such as the possibility of allergenicity, toxicity and the stability of biological functions of the peptides during gastrointestinal digestion would need to be addressed.

Bioactive Peptides

The increased consumer awareness of the health promoting effects of functional foods and nutraceuticals is the driving force of the functional food and nutraceutical market. Bioactive peptides are known for their high tissue affinity, specificity and efficiency in promoting health. For this reason, the search for food-derived bioactive peptides has increased exponentially. Over the years, many potential bioactive peptides from food have been documented; yet, obstacles such as the need to establish optimal conditions for industrial scale production and the absence of well-designed clinical trials to provide robust evidence for proving health claims continue to exist. Other important factors such as the possibility of allergenicity, cytotoxicity and the stability of the peptides during gastrointestinal digestion would need to be addressed. This review discusses our current knowledge on the health effects of food-derived bioactive peptides, their processing methods and challenges in their development.

Effects of thinned young apple polyphenols on the quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) surimi during cold storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of young apple polyphenols (YAP) on the quality of grass cap surimi (GCS) during storage at 4°C. The addition of YAP into GCS was found to be effective in delaying lipid oxidation, soluble myofibrillar protein (SMP) degradation and changes of L^∗, a^∗ and b^∗ values of GCS. Chlorogenic acid was screened to be the primary component showing preservative effects. YAP was shown to protect the functional properties of SMP during cold storage, retarding both the decrease in emulsifying activity and stability, and the increase in surface hydrophobicity of SMP. Additionally, the loss of gel strength and texture of GCS with YAP were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of GCS without YAP during cold storage. Therefore, YAP may be developed as a natural antioxidant to maintain the quality and to extend the shelf life of freshwater fish surimi.

Genetic and biochemical evidence that recombinant Enterococcus spp. strains expressing gelatinase (GelE) produce bovine milk-derived hydrolysates with high angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory activity (ACE-IA)

In this work, genes encoding gelatinase (gelE) and serine proteinase (sprE), two extracellular proteases produced by Enterococcus faecalis DBH18, were cloned in the protein expression vector pMG36c, containing the constitutive P32 promoter, generating the recombinant plasmids pCG, pCSP, and pCGSP encoding gelE, sprE, and gelE-sprE, respectively. Transformation of noncaseinolytic E. faecalis P36, E. faecalis JH2-2, E. faecium AR24, and E. hirae AR14 strains with these plasmids permitted detection of caseinolytic activity only in the strains transformed with pCG or pCGSP. Complementation of a deletion (knockout) mutant of E. faecalis V583 for production of gelatinase (GelE) with pCG unequivocally supported that gelE is responsible for the caseinolytic activity of the transformed strain grown in bovine skim milk (BSM). RP-HPLC-MS/MS analysis of hydrolysates of transformed Enterococcus spp. strains grown in BSM permitted the identification of 38 major peptide fragments including peptides with previously reported angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory activity (ACE-IA), antihypertensive activity, and antioxidant activity.

Kinetics and molecular docking studies of the inhibitions of angiotensin converting enzyme and renin activities by hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) peptides

Four novel peptide sequences (WVYY, WYT, SVYT, and IPAGV) identified from an enzymatic digest of hemp seed proteins were used for enzyme inhibition kinetics and molecular docking studies. Results showed that WVYY (IC50 = 0.027 mM) was a more potent (p < 0.05) ACE-inhibitory peptide than WYT (IC50 = 0.574 mM). However, WYT (IC50 = 0.054 mM) and SVYT (IC50 = 0.063 mM) had similar renin-inhibitory activity, which was significantly better than that of IPAGV (IC50 = 0.093 mM). Kinetics studies showed that WVYY had a lower inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.06 mM and hence greater affinity for ACE when compared to the 1.83 mM obtained for WYT. SVYT had lowest Ki value of 0.89 mM against renin, when compared to the values obtained for WYT and IPAGV. Molecular docking results showed that the higher inhibitory activities of WVYY and SVYT were due to the greater degree of noncovalent bond-based interactions with the enzyme protein, especially formation of higher numbers of hydrogen bonds with active site residues.