Beneficial Effects of Soybean-Derived Bioactive Peptides

Abstract

Peptides present in foods are involved in nutritional functions by supplying amino acids; sensory functions related to taste or solubility, emulsification, etc.; and bioregulatory functions in various physiological activities. In particular, peptides have a wide range of physiological functions, including as anticancer agents and in lowering blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels, enhancing immunity, and promoting calcium absorption. Soy protein can be partially hydrolyzed enzymatically to physiologically active soy (or soybean) peptides (SPs), which not only exert physiological functions but also help amino acid absorption in the body and reduce bitterness by hydrolyzing hydrophobic amino acids from the C- or N-terminus of soy proteins. They also possess significant gel-forming, emulsifying, and foaming abilities. SPs are expected to be able to prevent and treat atherosclerosis by inhibiting the reabsorption of bile acids in the digestive system, thereby reducing blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and fat levels. In addition, soy contains blood pressure-lowering peptides that inhibit angiotensin-I converting enzyme activity and antithrombotic peptides that inhibit platelet aggregation, as well as anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial, immunoregulatory, opiate-like, hypocholesterolemic, and antihypertensive activities. In animal models, neuroprotective and cognitive capacity as well as cardiovascular activity have been reported. SPs also inhibit chronic kidney disease and tumor cell growth by regulating the expression of genes associated with apoptosis, inflammation, cell cycle arrest, invasion, and metastasis. Recently, various functions of soybeans, including their physiologically active functions, have been applied to health-oriented foods, functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This review introduces some current results on the role of bioactive peptides found in soybeans related to health functions.

Bioactive Peptides: From Basic Research to Clinical Trials and Commercialization

“…For example, in animal models, soy peptides/hydrolysates exert an antidiabetic effect by increasing insulin sensitivity and antiobesity activity by reducing appetite; 63−66 other proposed mechanisms include activation of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), 66 increased adiponectin, improved insulin sensitivity, 64 and lipid metabolism. 65,67 Likewise, clinical studies confirm the beneficial effects of soy peptides on obesity and glucose homeostasis. 26,49,52 Lactotripeptides have been extensively studied for their blood pressure lowering activity.…”

“…Besides hypertension, metabolic diseases are another front that can benefit from food-derived bioactive peptides. For example, in animal models, soy peptides/hydrolysates exert an antidiabetic effect by increasing insulin sensitivity and antiobesity activity by reducing appetite; − other proposed mechanisms include activation of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), increased adiponectin, improved insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism. , Likewise, clinical studies confirm the beneficial effects of soy peptides on obesity and glucose homeostasis. ,, Lactotripeptides have been extensively studied for their blood pressure lowering activity. Interestingly, a combination of two lactotripeptides (IPP and VPP) with plant sterols significantly lowered both blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients .…”

Solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus RT-3 enhanced the nutritional properties of soybeans

“…In the next step, we will use other methods to further analyze the information of small peptides. Reports have proved that the small peptides generated by in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation are beneficially associated with a multitude of metabolic activities, such as reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, inhibiting of the bile acid reabsorption in the intestinal tract and platelet aggregation as well as anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and immunoregulatory activities ( 1 , 32 ). In addition, the content of free essential amino acids, which cannot be synthesized in human body and served as important component in cell, significantly increased after fermentation ( Table 2 ).…”

Biological functions of peptides from legumes in gastrointestinal health. A review legume peptides with gastrointestinal protection

“…In the same way, IĸBα in adipocytes (Kwak et al, 2016). Additionally, Kim et al (2021) analyzed the tripeptide RGD obtained by high hydrostatic pressure (150 MPa) from germinated black soybeans, observing that at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, it decreased the expression of NO, TNFα…”

“…Similarly, FLV peptide from soybean β‐conglycinin at concentrations of 0.01–0.1 μM blocked the release of TNFα, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐19) and IL‐6 in both TNFα stimulated adipocytes and co‐cultured adipocytes/macrophages, this effect was mediated by the activation of the signaling molecules c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), the IĸB kinase (IKK) and the downregulation of IĸBα in adipocytes (Kwak et al, 2016). Additionally, Kim et al (2021) analyzed the tripeptide RGD obtained by high hydrostatic pressure (150 MPa) from germinated black soybeans, observing that at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, it decreased the expression of NO, TNFα (61.27%), IL‐1β (54.62%), and IL‐6 (55.41%) in LPS‐induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Lastly, González‐Montoya et al (2018) isolated peptide fractions from soybean sprouts by enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin‐pancreatin.…”