The potential application of the protein hydrolysates of three medicinal plants: cytotoxicity and functional properties

In vitro and in silico studies for the identification of anti-cancer and antibacterial peptides from camel milk protein hydrolysates

Today, breast cancer and infectious diseases are very worrying that led to a widespread effort by researchers to discover natural remedies with no side effects to fight them. In the present study, we isolated camel milk protein fractions, casein and whey proteins, and hydrolyzed them using pepsin, trypsin, and both enzymes. Screening of peptides with anti-breast cancer and antibacterial activity against pathogens was performed. Peptides derived from whey protein fraction with the use of both enzymes showed very good activity against MCF-7 breast cancer with cell viability of 7.13%. The separate use of trypsin and pepsin to digest whey protein fraction yielded peptides with high antibacterial activity against S. aureus (inhibition zone of 4.17 ± 0.30 and 4.23 ± 0.32 cm, respectively) and E. coli (inhibition zone of 4.03 ± 0.15 and 4.03 ± 0.05 cm, respectively). Notably, in order to identify the effective peptides in camel milk, its protein sequences were retrieved and enzymatically digested in silico. Peptides that showed both anticancer and antibacterial properties and the highest stability in intestinal conditions were selected for the next step. Molecular interaction analysis was performed on specific receptors associated with breast cancer and/or antibacterial activity using molecular docking. The results showed that P3 (WNHIKRYF) and P5 (WSVGH) peptides had low binding energy and inhibition constant so that they specifically occupied active sites of protein targets. Our results introduced two peptide-drug candidates and new natural food additive that can be delivered to further animal and clinical trials.

Multidirectional Characterization of Phytochemical Profile and Health-Promoting Effects of Ziziphora bungeana Juz. Extracts

Ziziphora species (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional medicine as sedatives, antiseptics, carminatives, or expectorants. Despite their common applications in phytotherapy, there is still lack of evidence about the composition of their extracts and its impact on biological properties of the plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of Ziziphora bungeana, a less studied species growing in Kazakhstan, using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS instrumentation and to determine its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity together with inhibitory properties against tyrosinase and toxicity in erythrocyte lysis assay. Extracts from Z. bungeana were found to be sources of flavonoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, and terpenes that determined their antiradical activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracts were lower for Gram-positive bacteria (1.25-10 mg/mL) than for Gram-negative bacteria and fungi (5-20 mg/mL). The EC₅₀ value calculated for antiradical activity ranged between 15.00 ± 1.06 µg/mL and 13.21 ± 3.24 µg/mL for ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. Z. bungeana extracts were found to decrease the activity of tyrosinase by 50% (at 200 µg/mL) similarly to kojic acid and were slightly cytotoxic for human melanoma A375 cell line (at 200 µg/mL) with no effect on HaCaT keratinocytes. In the end, Z. bungeana did not reveal toxic effects in hemolytic assay as compared to the positive control Triton X-100. The performed tests show potential application of the plant in the treatment of infectious diseases, disorders caused by free radicals, and skin problems.

Experimental, molecular docking and molecular dynamic studies of natural products targeting overexpressed receptors in breast cancer

Natural compounds are proper tools for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Hence, the search for these ligands of overexpressed receptors in breast cancer has been a competitive challenge recently and opens new avenues for drug discovery. In this research, we have investigated molecular interactions between natural products and overexpressed receptors in breast cancer using molecular docking and dynamic simulation approaches followed by extraction of the best ligand from Citrus limetta and developing for nanoscale encapsulation composed of soy lecithin using a sonicator machine. The encapsulation process was confirmed by DLS and TEM analyses. Anticancer activity was also examined using MTT method. Among the investigated natural compounds, hesperidin was found to bind to specific targets with stronger binding energy. The molecular dynamics results indicated that the hesperidin-MCL-1 complex is very stable at 310.15 K for 200 ns. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed that the purity of extracted hesperidin was 98.8% with a yield of 1.72%. The results of DLS and TEM showed a strong interaction between hesperidin and lecithin with an entrapped efficiency of 92.02 ± 1.08%. Finally, the cytotoxicity effect of hesperidin was increased against the MDA-MB-231 cell line with an IC50 value of 62.93 μg/mL after encapsulation, whereas no significant effect against the MCF10A cell line. We showed for the first time that hesperidin is a flexible and strong ligand for the MCL-1 receptor. Also, it has the in vitro ability to kill the MDA-MB-231 cell lines without having a significant effect on the MCF10A cell lines. Therefore, hesperidin could be used as a food ingredient to generate functional foods.

Proteins in Food Systems-Bionanomaterials, Conventional and Unconventional Sources, Functional Properties, and Development Opportunities

Recently, food companies from various European countries have observed increased interest in high-protein food and other products with specific functional properties. This review article intends to present proteins as an increasingly popular ingredient in various food products that frequently draw contemporary consumers’ attention. The study describes the role of conventional, unconventional, and alternative sources of protein in the human body. Furthermore, the study explores proteins’ nutritional value and functional properties, their use in the food industry, and the application of proteins in bionanomaterials. Due to the expected increase in demand for high-protein products, the paper also examines the health benefits and risks of consuming these products, current market trends, and consumer preferences.

Novel bioactive peptides of Achillea eriophora show anticancer and antioxidant activities

Despite the limitations of current methods in cancer treatment, the use of bioactive peptides can be as an alternative to treat today. Therefore, isolation and relative purification of bioactive peptides was carried out form Achillea eriophora using a Sep-Pak C18 SPE cartridge and Amicon® Ultra Centrifugal Filters. The presence of desired peptides was checked using RP-HPLC and confirmed using LC-MS. The results of anticancer assay showed that the peptide mixture inhibits the growth of MCF-7 cancerous cell line with the values of IC₅₀, GI₅₀, and LC₅₀ equal to 18.73 ± 0.22, 7.52 ± 0.15, and 56.73 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively. It also showed DPPH radical scavenging activity and cupric-ion reducing power with the IC₅₀ value of 5.095 ± 0.23 and 63.3 ± 0.44 µg/mL, respectively. Although flavonoids were present in the sample along with the peptides, their amount was trivial (18.097 ± 1.36 μg/mL). Nevertheless, the results of the LC-MS showed mass-to-charge ratios of 301.17, 261.22, and 243.25, which was a dipeptide or tripeptide in compression to enzyme-digested BSA as a standard. In addition, SEM analysis of the purified peptide mixture showed that it kills the MCF-7 cancerous cell line by creating pores in the membrane. Therefore, it might be valuable to these peptides sequenced and be studied for physicochemical properties. Animal and clinical studies could help its application in drug development.