Peptides from cowpea present antioxidant activity, inhibit cholesterol synthesis and its solubilisation into micelles

Bioactive Peptides

“…The hydrolyzed lupin proteins were found to inhibit HMGCoA reductase activity in HepG2 cells and this may account for its significant hypocholesterolaemic effect [108]. In a similar way, peptides in cowpea inhibited HMGCoA reductase and reduced cholesterol micellar solubilization in vitro [109]. Peptides in rice bran protein hydrolysates were also found to inhibit cholesterol micellar solubilization and may be important in reducing cholesterol [19].…”

“…Low molecular weight peptides from I. badionotus hydrolysates have also been reported to inhibit ACE activity, kill colorectal cancer cells and scavenge free radicals [177]. Similarly, peptides in cowpea hydrolysates were found to exhibit antioxidant activities and inhibit HMGCoA reductase activity [109]. Likewise, Rohu roe hydrolysates showed strong ACE inhibitory ability as well as antiproliferative activity against Caco-2 cell lines [178].…”

The Role of Food Peptides in Lipid Metabolism during Dyslipidemia and Associated Health Conditions

“…Food protein hydrolysates and peptides are known to disrupt the incorporation of cholesterol into simulated micelles; see review [18]. This activity was recently reported for egg white and cowpea protein hydrolysates and thought to be a plausible mechanism of the hypolipidemic activity of the peptide products [20,29]. As shown in Figure 2, alteration of intestinal cholesterol uptake by the pepsin-digested egg white proteins resulted in increased fecal excretion of neutral steroids and decreased lymphatic cholesterol transport in rats possibly due to inhibition of chylomicron assembly [30].…”

“…Hepatic MTP functions in VLDL assembly and secretion and its downregulation was thought to have contributed to the observed hypolipidemic events in the liver cells. Moreover, other peptides exhibited in vitro inhibition of the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoAR), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis [29,35]. This activity is expected to modulate dyslipidemia by lowering hepatic and plasma cholesterol levels.…”

Influence of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Peptides on Insulin Resistance

“…Oxidative stress is produced by an imbalance between oxidizing species and natural antioxidants in the body, and has been associated with cell apoptosis, aging, bioactive) peptides. For example, a recent in vitro study on the effects of cowpea peptides on lipid metabolism reported that cowpea peptides can act as antioxidants and inhibit the enzyme needed for biosynthesis of cholesterol, and its micellar solubility [9]. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic characteristics of cowpea peptides in a rat skeletal muscle cell culture; considering the potential of cowpea peptides in health promotion.…”