Modification of Soybean Protein Hydrolysates by Alcalase-Catalyzed Plastein Reaction and the ACE-Inhibitory Activity of the Modified Product In Vitro

Soybean protein hydrolysates were prepared by hydrolyzing soybean protein isolates with a protease alcalase to a degree of hydrolysis of 16.6%, and then modified by alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction to reveal the impact of plastein reaction on the ACE-inhibitory activity of the modified product in vitro. The suitable conditions of plastein reaction of soybean protein hydrolysates were selected based on the results of response surface methodology with the decreased amount of the free amino groups of the modified product as response. When reaction temperature was fixed at 30°C, the selected conditions were as follows: concentration of soybean protein hydrolysates of 45% (w/w), addition level of alcalase of 275 U/g peptides, and reaction time of 3 to 4 h. Soybean protein hydrolysates and eight modified products were evaluated for their ACE-inhibitory activities in vitro. The assay results highlighted that plastein reaction improved the ACE-inhibitory activity of the modified product. The IC₅₀ of the modified products ranged from 0.64 to 1.11 mg/mL, while that of soybean protein hydrolysates was 1.45 mg/mL. The decreased amount of the free amino groups of the modified product showed influence on the ACE-inhibitory activity in vitro. Analysis results from size exclusion chromatography confirmed that some plasteins with higher molecular weights were formed in the modified product. Our results showed that alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction could be applied as a potential approach to enhance the ACE-inhibitory activity of soybean protein hydrolysates in vitro.