Buffalo (Bubalus bubilis) colostrum and milk fat globule membrane fractions are potent antioxidants

Abstract

Colostrum is the first liquid food for the new born baby, secreted after the parturition. After few days of maturation the colostrum turns to milk. The cream or fat fraction of milk consists of fat droplets composed primarily of triacylglycerols that are secreted from the apical surface of the mammary cells surrounded by cellular thin membranes membrane, the fat globule membrane (FGM), formed by proteins which have been suggested to be cholesterolemia-lowering factors, inhibitors of cancer cell growth, vitamin binders, antioxidant, bactericidal, suppressors of multiple sclerosis. FGM was isolated from buffalo colostrum and milk, the fat content was > 2-fold higher in the former than in the latter. The colostrum fat globule membrane (CFGM) fraction also showed significantly higher protein content than milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) extract. Further, the SDS-PAGE separation of the total proteins from the CFGM and MFGM showed differential banding pattern. Antioxidative property of the two FGM extracts was deliberated based on their free radical scavenging ability and reducing power. CFGM was found to exhibit a relatively higher antioxidant and reductive capacity than the MFGM fractions. The results obtained in the present study showcases the superior beneficial health effects of the CFGM over the MFGM.