Selenium-biofortified corn peptides: Attenuating concanavalin A-Induced liver injury and structure characterization

The relationship between hepatoprotective effects of selenium-biofortified corn (Zea mays Linn) peptides (SeCPs) and its antioxidant ability was evaluated and the structure of SeCPs was identified. SeCPs and corn peptides (CPs) both had good antioxidant ability, and the effect of SeCPs was significantly higher than CPs within a certain concentration range (P < 0.05). Additionally, animal experiments indicated that SeCPs (200 mg/kg) had a significantly protective effect against concanavalin A (Con A) induced hepatic lesions, as it significantly declined glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) activities, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon (IFN)-γ contents in serum, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in liver (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in liver were also significantly increased by SeCPs (P < 0.05). The amino acid composition of SeCPs with Mw < 1 kDa was mainly glutamic acid (Glu, 31.18%), leucine (Leu, 21.06%) and alanine (Ala, 13.26%). According to the retention time, the amino acid sequences of 8 selenium-biofortified corn peptides and 29 selenium-free corn peptides were identified. Our results illustrated that the mechanisms of SeCPs against Con A induced hepatic injury in mice may be related to its antioxidant ability and reduction of lipid peroxidation, inhibiting the release of immune factors, such as TNF-α and IFN-γ.