Identification of Bioactive Peptides from Cereal Storage Proteins and Their Potential Role in Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Cereal grains, such as wheat, barley, rice, rye, oat, millet, sorghum, and corn, have been staples in human diets since ancient times. At present, there is a significant body of scientific evidence showing the health benefits of consuming whole grains in chronic disease prevention, particularly in regards to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The objective was to determine bioactive peptides in cereal grains that may prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation, and diabetes. Bioactive peptides that may be obtained from cereal grains, particularly wheat, oat, barley, and rice, were identified. Bioactive peptides that play a role in chronic disease prevention have been found primarily in legumes and dairy products; although research connecting cereal grains with potential bioactive peptide activity is limited. In this review, 4 cereal grains, wheat, oat, barley, and rice, were evaluated for bioactive peptide potential using the BIOPEP database. In addition, research information was compiled for each grain regarding evidence about the effect of their proteins in prevention of chronic diseases. All 4 grains showed high occurrence frequencies of angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor peptides (A = 0.239 to 0.511), as well as of dipeptidyl peptidase-inhibitor and antithrombotic, antioxidant, hypotensive, and opioid activity. Wheat and rice proteins had anticancer sequences present. Wheat and barley showed the greatest diversity and abundance of potential biological activity among the cereal proteins. Further research needs to be conducted to learn how these biologically active peptide sequences are released from cereal grains. This study supports the notion that cereal grains are a nutritious part of a healthy diet by preventing chronic diseases.

Antioxidant Properties of Tripeptides Revealed by a Comparison of Six Different Assays

“…The methodology of the QSAR modeling relies on the idea that biological activity is a function of chemical structures, which can be described by molecular or physicochemical variables, e.g., electronic attributes, hydrophobicity, and steric properties. The data obtained in this study would be useful for QSAR modeling of unique antioxidant peptides as well as for finding and screening cryptides, which are food-derived peptides and often multifunctional (Cavazos and Gonzalez de Mejia, 2013;Mora and Hayes, 2015). …”

Sorghum: An Underutilized Cereal Whole Grain with the Potential to Assist in the Prevention of Chronic Disease

“…(69) To date, research linking cereal grains with potential bioactive peptide activity has been limited, however there are more sorghum studies appearing in the literature. (69,74) Overall, there is much to consider in translating this knowledge to human clinical trials, in particular the study populations of interest and the health/disease outcomes that might be researched.…”

A Review of Extraction and Analysis of Bioactives in Oat and Barley and Scope for Use of Novel Food Processing Technologies

“…The storage proteins in oat and barley have recently been sequenced and the possibility of presence of bioactive peptides in them has been determined by in silico methods using the BIOPEP database [87]. Sequences with various biological activities such as Angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors, renin inhibitors have been identified in the cereal protein sequences.…”