Characterization of Proteins Extracted from Ulva sp., Padina sp., and Laurencia sp. Macroalgae Using Green Technology: Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Antioxidant and ACE-I Inhibitory Activity

Abstract

Macroalgal proteins were extracted from Ulva rigida (URPE) (green), Padina pavonica (PPPE) (brown), and Laurencia obtusa (LOPE) (red) using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction, which is one of the green extraction technologies. Techno-functional, characteristic, and digestibility properties, and biological activities including antioxidant (AOA) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibitory activities were also investigated. According to the results, the extraction yield (EY) (94.74%) was detected in the extraction of L. obtusa , followed by U. rigida and P. pavonica . PPPE showed the highest ACE-I inhibitory activity before in vitro digestion. In contrast to PPPE, LOPE (20.90 ± 0.00%) and URPE (20.20 ± 0.00%) showed higher ACE-I inhibitory activity after in vitro digestion. The highest total phenolic content (TPC) (77.86 ± 1.00 mg GAE/g) was determined in LOPE. On the other hand, the highest AOA CUPRAC (74.69 ± 1.78 mg TE/g) and AOA ABTS (251.29 ± 5.0 mg TE/g) were detected in PPPE. After in vitro digestion, LOPE had the highest TPC (22.11 ± 2.18 mg GAE/g), AOA CUPRAC (8.41 ± 0.06 mg TE/g), and AOA ABTS (88.32 ± 0.65 mg TE/g) ( p < 0.05). In vitro protein digestibility of three macroalgal protein extracts ranged from 84.35 ± 2.01% to 94.09 ± 0.00% ( p < 0.05). Three macroalgae showed high oil holding capacity (OHC), especially PPPE (410.13 ± 16.37%) ( p < 0.05), but they showed minimum foaming and emulsifying properties. The quality of the extracted macroalgal proteins was assessed using FTIR, SDS-PAGE, and DSC analyses. According to our findings, the method applied for macroalgal protein extraction could have a potential the promise of ultrasonication application as an environmentally friendly technology for food industry. Moreover, URPE, PPPE, and LOPE from sustainable sources may be attractive in terms of nourishment for people because of their digestibility, antioxidant properties, and ACE-I inhibitory activities.

Optimization of Protein Extraction from Halopteris scoparia Macroalgae by Ultrasonic-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction (UAEE): Bioactive, Chemical, and Technological Properties

“…In another study, Kadam et al extracted and characterized proteins from another brown macroalgae, Ascophyllum nodosum. In the literature, ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction has been used to extract numerous macroalgae such as Palmaria palmata, Gracilaria dura, Ulva rigida, Padina pavonica, Laurencia obtusa , and Caulerpa prolifera under various conditions.…”