Mitigation of malondialdehyde-induced protein lipoxidation by epicatechin in whey protein isolate

Wenhua Yao1, Xingya Hao1, Zhangjie Hu1

  • 1Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products of Hangzhou City, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.

Food Chemistry
|June 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Epicatechin (EC) can mitigate malondialdehyde (MDA)-induced lipoxidation in whey protein isolate (WPI). EC reduces MDA binding, protein carbonylation, and aggregation, offering potential for alleviating protein damage.

Area of Science:

  • Food Chemistry
  • Protein Science
  • Oxidative Stress

Background:

  • Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a reactive aldehyde known to induce lipoxidation in proteins.
  • Whey protein isolate (WPI) is susceptible to oxidative modifications, impacting its functionality.
  • Phenolic compounds, like epicatechin (EC), are investigated for their antioxidant properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects of epicatechin (EC) against malondialdehyde (MDA)-induced lipoxidation in whey protein isolate (WPI).
  • To characterize the physicochemical changes in WPI during MDA-induced lipoxidation with and without EC.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which EC mitigates MDA-mediated protein damage.

Main Methods:

  • Co-incubation of MDA and WPI with varying concentrations of EC.
  • Assessment of MDA content and protein modifications (carbonylation, Schiff base formation, tryptophan fluorescence, sulfhydryl content).
  • Immunoblotting analysis to visualize MDA-WPI binding and surface microstructure observation.

Main Results:

  • EC significantly reduced MDA content during co-incubation.
  • EC dose-dependently alleviated MDA-induced protein carbonylation, Schiff base formation, and loss of tryptophan fluorescence.
  • EC partially restored WPI microstructure by reducing MDA-induced aggregation and interrupted MDA-binding to WPI.

Conclusions:

  • Epicatechin (EC) effectively mitigates malondialdehyde (MDA)-induced lipoxidation in whey protein isolate (WPI).
  • EC protects WPI by reducing MDA binding, protein carbonylation, and aggregation.
  • EC exhibits potential in preventing or alleviating MDA-mediated protein damage, with possible interactions affecting protein sulfhydryls and hydrophobicity.

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