Purification and identification of antioxidative peptides from dry-cured Xuanwei ham

This study mainly focused on the purification and identification of antioxidative peptides generated in dry-cured Xuanwei ham. Based on scavenging effect on free radicals and ferrous ion, the antioxidant activity of crude peptides from Xuanwei ham was assessed. From the scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH) radicals and superoxide anion (O2(-)), it was suggested that XHP generated during the ripening period had a strong antioxidant activity. By using size exclusion chromatography, anion exchange column and reversed-phase HPLC, fractions with a strong antioxidative activity were separated based on their molecular weight and polarity differences. The fraction with strong antioxidant effect was further characterized by LC-MS/MS. The results suggest that antioxidative peptides are produced during the long processing of Xuanwei ham among which the tetrapeptide Asp-Leu-Glu-Glu could be one of the main peptides that play key role in the antioxidant activity.