In vitro gastrointestinal digestion of liquid and semi-liquid dairy matrixes

Protein digestion in two liquid dairy matrixes with different heat treatments (pasteurized and sterilized milks) and in one semi-liquid dairy matrix (stirred-yogurt) was investigated using an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model. After buccal digestion, significantly lower amount of soluble proteins were measured in yogurt than in both milks. This difference between dairy matrixes decreased during gastric digestion and disappeared at the end of the duodenal digestion upon the proteolytic action of pepsin and pancreatin. Electrophoresis pattern of digested mixtures showed that casein digestion began at the gastric phase and was slower for pasteurized milk than sterilized milk and yogurt. At the end of duodenal digestion, no more intact caseins were present in all the dairy matrixes while faint bands of whey proteins were still visible for pasteurized milk and yogurt. The release of free amino acids during the duodenal phase varied according to their nature (acid, basic, neutral or hydrophobic) and seems to be governed by the specificity of the enzymes. These results suggest that the severity of milk's heat treatment influences the kinetics of protein digestion, mainly during the gastric phase, and that the impact of processing has to be considered to study protein digestion in dairy products.     

Interactions of digestive enzymes and milk proteins with tea catechins at gastric and intestinal pH

The interactions of digestive enzymes (pepsin, pancreatin) and milk proteins (β‐casein, β‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg)) with (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (?)‐epigallocatechin (EGC) and (?)‐epicatechin (EC) at gastric and intestinal pH were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that in the gastric environment, all three tea catechins showed binding affinities in descending order of strength with β‐casein first, followed by β‐Lg and then pepsin. The highest affinity was observed for EGCG–β‐casein, with a binding constant (K_A) of 2.502(±0.201) × 10⁵ m ^?1. In the intestinal environment, the binding strengths of the proteins with EGCG and EGC were in the order β‐Lg > pancreatin > β‐casein; for binding with EC, the strength order was β‐casein > β‐Lg > pancreatin. The combination EGCG–β‐Lg had the strongest binding affinity, with a K_A of 14.300(±0.997) × 10⁵ m ^?1. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that tea catechins complexed with milk proteins and digestive enzymes via different hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions depending on the different digestion environments and types of catechins, proteins and enzymes.     

Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory activity of protein hydrolysates prepared from three freshwater carps (Catla catla,Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala) using Flavorzyme

Fish protein hydrolysates from three freshwater carps, Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala with different degree of hydrolysis (DH) (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), were prepared using Flavorzyme enzyme and designated as HCF, HRF and HMF, respectively. The angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of hydrolysates was found to vary from 43 ± 2% to 71 ± 3%. Based on ACE inhibitory activity, HRF with DH‐15% was taken up for further study. The mode of ACE activity inhibition by HRF‐DH 15% was mixed type as revealed by Lineweaver–Burk plot. Sequential digestion of HRF‐DH 15% using pepsin and pancreatin decreased the ACE inhibitory activity from 76% to 63%. Partial purification of HRF‐DH 15% by size exclusion chromatography gave three different fractions designated as F‐1, F‐2 and F‐3 with the molecular mass in the range of 6456–407 Da. Fraction 2 had significantly higher ACE inhibitory activity than the other fractions.     

Digestibility and Immunoreactivity of Shrimp Extracts Using an In Vitro Digestibility Model with Pepsin and Pancreatin

Shellfish allergy affects 2% of the adult population in the United States. Identification of allergenic shrimp proteins is needed for improved management and assessment of shrimp allergy. We determined the temporal pepsin and pancreatin stability of total shrimp proteins using simulated physiological digestive conditions in vitro. Gel electrophoresis was used to determine protein stability, whereas immunoreactivity of protease stable proteins was determined using rabbit antigen‐specific antibodies. Potential allergenicity of protease stable proteins was determined utilizing human sera from shrimp allergic patients. Total shrimp myofibrillar proteins were pepsin‐ and pancreatin‐stable for up to 1 h after initiating digestion, whereas only pancreatin‐stable total shrimp proteins were Immunoglobulin G (IgG) immunoreactive. However, shrimp proteins of 32 and 25 kDa were pepsin and/or pancreatin stable and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactive, denoting the stability and potential allergenicity. These findings suggest that this in vitro digestibility model may be useful for the identification of shrimp allergenic proteins that are more resistant to physiologic digestive conditions and may elicit an immunologic response in vivo.     

Effect of thermal processing and digestive protease on the antioxidant capacity of fruit juice–milk beverage model systems under simulated gastrointestinal digestion

The effects of thermal processing and digestive protease on the antioxidant capacity of fruit juice–milk beverage (FJMB) models containing whey protein (WP) and chlorogenic acid or catechin (CAT) under in vitro digestion were investigated. After gastric digestion, the FJMB showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in ABTS, but little change in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Intestinal digestion decreased the FRAP and increased ABTS except in the model containing 0.1% CAT. There were different effects (none, masking, synergistic effect) in the antioxidant activity of the WP and phenolics under digestion. Pasteurisation (63 °C/30 min) had no significant effect on the FJMB's antioxidant capacity, while sterilisation (121 °C/10 min) significantly (P < 0.05) increased, decreased or had no significant effect on ABTS and FRAP under digestion, depending on the model. Pepsin and pancreatin significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the fruit phenolics' ABTS. Ferric reducing antioxidant power was not significantly influenced by pepsin during gastric digestion, but was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by pancreatin during intestinal digestion. These results would be helpful to improve the efficacy of fruit phenolics in FJMB subjected to thermal processing and to maintain the health benefits of this kind of functional products in the food industry.     

Use of selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria to hydrolyze wheat and rye proteins responsible for cereal allergy

This work was aimed at showing the capacity of selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria to hydrolyze wheat and rye allergens. Hydrolysis was investigated after wheat sourdough fermentation and after treatment of wheat and rye sourdough breads with pepsin, trypsin and pancreatin, which mimicked the digestive process. As shown by immunoblotting with sera from allergic patients, wheat sourdough fermentation caused the disappearance of some IgE-binding proteins (albumins/globulins and gliadins mainly) with respect to the chemically acidified dough used as the control. The IgE-binding protein profile of wheat and rye sourdough breads differed from those of baker's yeast breads. The signals of the IgE-binding proteins contained in the sourdough breads disappeared after in vitro digestion with pepsin, trypsin and pancreatin. The same effect by digestive enzymes was not found for baker's yeast breads which showed persistent IgE-binding proteins. As shown by ELISA inhibition assays, the presence of IgE-binding low molecular weight proteins/peptides in sourdough breads significantly decreased with respect to baker's yeast breads. Proteolytic activity by selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria may have an importance during food processing to produce pre-digested wheat and rye dough which contains IgE-binding proteins degradable by digestive enzymes.     

Antioxidant activity of amaranth protein or their hydrolysates under simulated gastrointestinal digestion

Amaranth proteins were subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal digestion to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the products. A protein isolate (I) was first hydrolyzed with pepsin (Pe) (pH 2, 37 °C) and then with pancreatin (Pa) (pH 6, 37 °C). Different hydrolysis conditions were assayed and control reactions (without enzymes) were performed. Hydrolysis degree (HD) determined by TNBS method ranged from 13 to 37%. Soluble fractions in 35 mmol/L phosphate buffer, pH = 7.8 were obtained from freeze-dried samples, and antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ABTS⁺·scavenging and the ORAC assays. Antioxidant activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. According to the results, digestion conditions (Pe/protein: 1:10, 60 min; and Pa/protein: 1:10, 60 min) were selected and applied to an amaranth protein alcalase-hydrolysate (H) (HD = 29.2 ± 1.3). After pepsin and pancreatin action (Hpepa), HD was 42.0 ± 2.6, slightly higher than that of the digested isolate (Ipepa) (36.9 ± 0.5). The corresponding soluble fractions exhibited different electrophoretic profiles (tricine-SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration chromatograms, evidencing the presence of different molecular species. Previous hydrolysis with alcalase did not improve the antioxidant activity after simulated gastrointestinal digestion according to the methodologies assayed. Both the protein isolate and the alcalase-hydrolysate showed a potential capacity to scavenge free radicals after gastrointestinal digestion, appearing as promising ingredients to formulate functional foods with antioxidant activity.     

Antioxidant activities of enzymatic‐hydrolysed proteins of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) colostrum

This work investigated the antioxidant activities of dromedary colostrum proteins before and after hydrolysis by pepsin, trypsin, α‐chymotrypsin, pancreatin and papain. The enzymatic hydrolysis affected the degrees of hydrolysis, electrophoretic profiles, molecular weight distribution and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the generated peptides. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using four antioxidant assays, including 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical‐scavenging activities, ferric reducing power and ferrous ion chelating activity. Interestingly, the antioxidant activities of dromedary colostrum proteins were enhanced after enzymatic hydrolysis. The highest antioxidant potential was obtained by pancreatic hydrolysates (P ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that dromedary colostrum protein hydrolysates are an important source of natural antioxidant peptides.     

Microbiological characteristics of kumis, a traditional fermented Colombian milk, with particular emphasis on enterococci population

Kumis is a traditional fermented cow milk produced and consumed in South West Colombia. The main objective of this research was to studied the enterococcal population, present in 13 kumis samples traditionally manufactured, for their role as beneficial organisms or opportunistic pathogens. The molecular identification of 72 isolates evidenced that Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium were the dominant species. The genes gelE, esp, asa1, cyl and hyl, all associated with virulence factors in enterococci, were detected in 30 isolates, while 42 were free of virulence determinants. Skim milk media were fermented by all the different isolates and further tested for proteolysis (free NH₃ groups), Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and biogenic amines production. Nine E. faecalis and two E. faecium strains produced fermented milk with ACE-inhibitory activity values ranging from 39.7% to 84.35% .The digestion of fermented milk samples by pepsin and pancreatin evidenced an increase in ACE inhibitory activity, with E. faecalis KE09 as the best producer (IC50 = 14.25 μg ml⁻¹). Moreover, the strains showed a very low tyrosine decarboxylase activity and did not produce histamine during 48 h fermentation in milk. This study underlines the that Colombian kumis is a good source of not virulent enterococci able to produce fermented milks with ACE-inhibitory activity.     

Binding of iron by chicken muscle protein digests: the size of the iron‐binding peptides

The dilute salt‐insoluble proteins (DSIPs) were extracted from chicken muscle and digested in the presence of ferric iron. The size of the peptides was determined by ultrafiltration using membranes with various molecular weight cut‐offs (MWCOs). Over 90% of the peptides in both the pepsin and pepsin–pancreatin digestions were smaller than 10 kDa and more than 45% were smaller than 3.5 kDa. Pancreatin digestion increased the amount of small peptides (<3.5 kDa) as compared to pepsin digestion alone. Most of the iron was in a form too large to pass the 10 kDa MWCO membrane and was presumably bound to a few large peptides. About 10% of the iron was smaller than 3.5 kDa, but there was very little in the intermediate range (3.5–10 kDa). Pancreatin digestion produced more soluble iron than pepsin alone, but the size distribution was similar for both digestions. The smaller peptides (<10 kD) bound very little iron during digestion but could bind iron if separated from the large peptides before iron addition. The large iron‐binding peptides were separated by ultrafiltration, and a 22‐fold increase in specific activity (iron mg⁻¹ peptide) was achieved using a 10 kDa MWCO membrane. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro digestibility of protein from barley and other cereals.

An in vitro method for measuring barley protein digestibility is presented. Samples were first incubated with pepsin in HCl; pancreatin was then added concomitantly with a bacteriostatic borate buffer. After TCA-precipitation, soluble nitrogen was measured. The digestion was unaffected by accumulated free amino acids. There were no free amino acids following pepsin treatment, but the essential ones were well liberated by pancreatin. Results for barley grown in the field or in pots, and for decortified barley fractions agreed with true digestibility values determined with rats. Of these samples, the field-grown barleys per se differed too little for the accuracy to be confirmed. The other cereals tested, oats, rye, maize, wheat, and rice, gave unsatisfactory results with pepsin/pancreatin, and also with pepsin, pancreatin, or pronase used separately. The ranking of the cereals according to in vitro digestibility depended on the type of enzyme and on the enzyme-to-substrate ratio.     

Estimation of Calcium Status in Selected Food Systems

Ionic and total dialyzable calcium in nonfat dry milk, soy protein isolate, and a 50:50 mixture of the two were estimated in dialysates before and after in vitro digestion by HCl/pepsin and pancreatin/bile. Heat pasteurization did not affect % ionic or % total dialyzable calcium, before or after digestion, for the three food systems. Digestion increased % ionic dialyzable calcium for non-fat dry milk and the mixture, and increased % total dialyzable calcium for all three food systems. After digestion, % total dialyzable calcium did not differ between the milk and the mixture. Soy protein did not bind substantial amounts of calcium from the milk.     

Kinetics of peptide fraction release during in vitro digestion of casein

The charges and sizes of peptides released during in vitro casein digestion were investigated. Casein was hydrolysed sequentially by pepsin and pancreatin and, during hydrolysis, the products of digestion were removed by dialysis. The undigested residues were separated by ion‐exchange chromatography into basic–neutral (BN), lightly acid (LA) and acid (A) fractions. Each of these fractions was further resolved by sequential ultrafiltration (MWCO 10 and 1 kDa) into two retentates (>10 and 10–1 kDa) and one permeate (<1 kDa). The polypeptides (>10 kDa) produced by pepsin hydrolysis were degraded into small molecules during the first 2 h of pancreatin hydrolysis; less than 100 mg g^?1 of the total N remained undigested. Most of the material produced was in the BN10‐1 (ie basic–neutral, 10–1 kDa) fraction, with three times as much N as the A10‐1 fractions. As digestion progressed a decrease in the proportion of N in the residues retained by the dialysis membrane was observed. This decrease was particularly rapid in the BN10‐1 fraction. Large proportions of leucine (Leu), lysine (Lys), arginine (Arg), phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr) were found as peptides smaller than 1 kDa, both in the dialysates and retentates, while glutamine (Glu), threonine (Thr), serine (Ser) and asparagine (Asp) appeared mostly in the A10‐1 and A > 10 fractions. After 6 h of pancreatin hydrolysis most of the proline (Pro) content was in the BN10‐1 fractions. The mechanisms behind and the implications of these results are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of particle size on physiochemical and in vitro digestion properties of durum wheat bran

In order to promote the potential health benefits of high fibre products, wheat bran is the main focus of the food industry. The physiochemical and in vitro digestion properties of wheat bran containing different particle size were investigated and compared against raw bran samples. Firstly, the bran sample containing superfine particles (11.63 μm) was hydrolyzed by the α-amylase, pepsin, and pancreatin enzymes separately using a single factor and orthogonal test. Secondly, optimized hydrolysis parameters of superfine particles were employed to measure in vitro digestibility of macronutrients in raw, coarse, medium, and superfine bran particles. The maximum degree of hydrolysis obtained via α-Amylase (concentration 10 mg mL⁻¹, pH 6.6, and time 12.5 min) was 55.71%; pepsin (concentration 50 mg mL⁻¹, pH 1.2, and time 9 h) was 82.10%; and pancreatin (concentration 100 mg mL⁻¹, pH 7.0 and time 12 h) was 84.71%, respectively. The highest in vitro digestibility rate of reducing sugar, protein, fat, and soluble fibre content was observed in superfine bran samples to 33.4%, 82.55%, 91.53%, and 21.66%, respectively.     

In vitro digestion and characterisation of 2S albumin and digestion‐resistant peptides in pecan

The 2S albumins are one of the major protein families involved in severe food allergic reactions to nuts, seeds and legumes, thus potentially making these proteins clinically relevant for allergic sensitisation and potential diagnostic markers. In this study, we sought to purify native 2S albumin protein from pecan to further characterise this putative allergen. The purified 2S albumin, Car i 1, from pecan was found to be resistant to digestion by pepsin in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and comparatively stable to proteolysis by trypsin and pancreatin in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Digestion of purified Car i 1 in SGF and SIF resulted in formation of different digestion‐resistant peptides that were capable of binding IgE antibodies from allergic individuals. Digestion stability of Car i 1 and formation of digestion‐resistant antigenic peptides may explain why it is a potent sensitising protein in pecan for susceptible individuals. The observation that digestion‐resistant peptides are able to bind IgE implies that pecan can trigger systemic allergic reactions even after digestion in the stomach and small intestine.     

Effects of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical properties,erythrocyte haemolysis inhibitory ability and chemical antioxidant activity of mulberry leaf protein and its hydrolysates

Proteins and peptides must be degraded and modified in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract prior to absorption; this process changes their physicochemical and biological properties. Mulberry leaf protein (MP) and its hydrolysates (HMP) have favourable antioxidant activities. To investigate, in vitro and separately, the effects of GI digestion and intestinal digestion on the stability of MP and HMP, we monitored the changes in secondary structures, amino acids, molecular weights and antioxidant activities. We found that MP was more hydrolysed by pepsin than by pancreatin, unlike HMP. The final digests of MP and HMP were mainly composed of polypeptides (0.5–6.5 kDa) and oligopeptides (<0.5 kDa), respectively. The GI digestion influenced MP and HMP differently; GI digestion increased the antioxidant efficiency of MP and decreased that of HMP. For the intestinal digests, the antioxidant activities of MP and HMP also differed. The 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical quenching abilities of MP and HMP at 1 mg mL^?1 were comparable to or exceeded that of L‐glutathione (GSH) and 6‐hydroxy‐2,5,7,8‐tetramethychroman‐2‐carboxylic acid (trolox). Meanwhile, the erythrocyte haemolysis rates of MP, HMP and their GI products at 0.05–1.0 mg mL^?1 were significantly lower than that of the 2,2′‐azobis (isobutyramidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH) control. Both MP and HMP can be used as natural antioxidants and may promote digestive health.     

Production of copper-chelating peptides after hydrolysis of sunflower proteins with pepsin and pancreatin

Sunflower protein hydrolysates obtained with pepsin and pancreatin were used for purification of copper-chelating peptides by affinity chromatography with copper immobilized on solid supports. The chelating activity of purified peptides was indirectly measured by the inhibition of β-carotene oxidation in the presence of copper. The protein hydrolysate obtained after 180 min incubation with pepsin plus 60 min with pancreatin was the most inhibitory of β-carotene oxidation. Purified chelating peptides were 2.5 times more antioxidant than the parent protein hydrolysate. Chelating peptides were enriched in certain amino acids, such as histidine and arginine, with respect to the original hydrolysate. This work shows that chelating peptides may be generated during digestion of sunflower proteins and have a protective role, due to their antioxidative activity, and favour mineral bioavailability.     

Functionalities and antioxidant properties of protein hydrolysates from the muscle of ornate threadfin bream treated with pepsin from skipjack tuna

Functional properties and antioxidant activities of protein hydrolysates prepared from ornate threadfin bream (Nemipterus hexodon) muscle, using skipjack tuna pepsin, with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH: 10%, 20% and 30%), were evaluated. Emulsifying and foaming properties of hydrolysates were governed by their DH and concentrations used. Hydrolysates with 20% DH had the highest scavenging activities for ABTS and DPPH radicals. However, chelating activity of hydrolysates for ferrous ion increased as DH increased. Size exclusion chromatography of the hydrolysate with 20% DH using Sephadex G-25 revealed that antioxidative peptides with molecular weight of approximately 1.3 kDa exhibited the highest ABTS radical-scavenging activity. In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion indicated that ABTS radical-scavenging activity of the antioxidative peptides was not affected by pepsin hydrolysis, whilst further digestion by pancreatin enhanced the activity. Therefore, protein hydrolysate from the muscle of ornate threadfin bream produced by skipjack tuna pepsin can be used as a promising source of functional peptides with antioxidant properties.     

Enzymatic Conditions of an In Vitro Method to Study Protein Digestion

An in vitro digestion method was proposed for studying protein digestion. Protein (casein) was submitted to peptic proteolysis in a closed system followed by hydrolysis with pancreatic enzymes in a “digestion cell” with continuous elimination of digested products by dialysis. The peptic digestion was performed with a pepsin source of high specific activity (3152 units/mg protein) with an enzyme:substrate (E:S) ratio of 1: 250. The second-step of proteolysis was carried out with pancreatin for 6 hr at an E:S ratio of 1:25. A 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, was used as the circulating dialysis buffer.     

Comparative study of in vitro digestibility of major allergen tropomyosin and other food proteins of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

BACKGROUND: China is the largest producer and consumer of aquatic products in the world; however, many people in China suffer from allergies upon consuming crab. Stability in simulated gastric fluid is regarded as an important parameter for the estimation of food allergenicity. RESULTS: The digestive stability of allergenic protein tropomyosin (TM) and other food proteins from Chinese mitten crab in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) digestion assay systems was investigated and compared by SDS‐PAGE, western blot and inhibition ELISA. In the SGF system, proteins such as the original band of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and actin were rapidly degraded within a short period of time, while TM was relatively resistant to pepsin digestion. In the SIF system, MHC was easily decomposed, while TM and actin were similarly resistant to digestion. Further study by IgE immunoblotting and inhibition ELISA using sera from crab‐allergic patients indicated that allergenicity of TM was partially decreased. CONCLUSION: Chinese mitten crab major allergen TM was resistant to pepsin while relatively susceptible to trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion. Both SDS‐PAGE using purified TM and western blot using myofibrillar proteins indicated that the degradation pattern of TM by SGF and SIF was not affected by the presence of other myofibrillar proteins. Inhibition ELISA results revealed that proteinase digestion is effective in reducing the allergenicity of crab TM. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry