Effects on functional groups and zeta potential of SAP_1<MW<3kDa treated by pulsed electric field technology

SAP_1<MW<3kDa was chosen to investigate the improvement of antioxidant activity of peptides treated with pulsed electric field (PEF) technology. The effects of electric field intensity and pulse frequency on SAP_1<MW<3kDa were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition, as well as the zeta potential and functional groups.

One-factor-at-a-time tests indicated that the PEF-treated sample had the strongest antioxidant activity (P < 0.05) and the lowest zeta potential value. The increase of antioxidant activity of SAP_1<MW<3kDa may be attributed to a loss of C = C and the amide band. Using a response surface methodology (RSM) experiment, it was shown that DPPH radical inhibition of SAP_1<MW<3kDa increased to 90.22 ± 0.90% at the optimal conditions (electric field intensity 15 kV cm^-1 , pulse frequency 1600 Hz and flow velocity 2.93 mL min^-1 ). Furthermore, the PEF-treated SAP_1<MW<3kDa under optimal conditions lacked the characteristic absorbance of N-H, C = C and the amide band and the zeta potential was reduced to -18.0 mV.

Overall, the results of the present study suggest that the improvement of antioxidant activity of SAP_1<MW<3kDa is a result of the contribution of the functional groups and the change in zeta potential when treated with PEF. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.