| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of mung bean protein hydrolysate (MBPH) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW 264.7 cells and discuss the possible immune regulatory mechanism. MBPH was prepared by alcalase, trypsin, neutrase, and flavourzyme. The 3‐h alcalase‐hydrolyzed hydrolysate with a molecular weight less than 1,450 Da was selected for the immunological tests. Results showed that MBPH possessed strong suppressing activity to proinflammatory mediators in a dose‐dependent manner. Compared to the LPS alone group, MBPH (200 µg/mL) significantly reduced nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐1β secretion levels by 52.6%, 53.2%, 48.4%, and 49.7%, respectively, in LPS‐induced macrophages. It also enhanced IL‐10 secretion from 789 to 3,678 pg/mL. MBPH blocked nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) translocation in LPS‐induced macrophages through the prevention of IκBα phosphorylation, and this process further prevented p65 translocation into the nucleus. A possible mechanism of MBPH is that it regulated the expression of inflammatory factors via the NF‐κB pathway, thus inhibiting inflammatory reactions. The results suggested that MBPH is of application potential in the development of immunomodulatory functional food to ameliorate immunosuppression. |
