Selenium-Containing Proteins/Peptides from Plants: A Review on the Structures and Functions

Area of Science:

• Nutritional biochemistry and plant science.
• Exploration of selenium's role in biological systems.
• Advancement of nutraceutical development.

Background:

• Selenium is vital for biological functions, but traditional supplements pose toxicity and bioavailability issues.
• Biofortification of edible plants is a strategy to enhance nutritional quality and selenium content.
• Plant-derived selenium proteins/peptides offer unique health benefits exceeding basic selenium nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current knowledge on plant-derived selenium-containing proteins/peptides.
• To discuss their structural features, bioactivities, and structure-activity relationships.
• To explore their bioavailability, metabolism, and potential for nutraceutical applications.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review on plant-derived selenium.
• Analysis of structural characteristics of selenium-containing proteins/peptides.
• Summary of research on bioactivities, bioavailability, and metabolism.

Main Results:

• Plant selenium proteins possess unique properties like nucleophilic seleno-amino acids and specific peptide sequences.
• These compounds exhibit significant antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.
• Challenges in commercial application stem from complex purification, identification, and limited bioavailability data.

Conclusions:

• Plant-derived selenium proteins/peptides hold significant promise for nutraceutical applications due to their diverse bioactivities.
• Further research into purification, identification, bioavailability, and metabolism is crucial for commercial viability.
• Optimizing the use of these compounds can enhance human health beyond basic selenium requirements.