Formation of Plant Derived Bioactive Peptides During Simulated Gastro-Intestinal Digestion: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Molecular Gastronomy

Background:

• Plant-based diets are increasingly popular due to their nutrient density and potential to reduce chronic disease risk.
• Plant proteins can be broken down into bioactive peptides during digestion, offering various health benefits.
• Existing reviews on bioactive peptides primarily focus on animal-based foods, leaving plant-based sources under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on bioactive peptides released from plant-based foods.
• To analyze the bioactivities of plant-derived bioactive peptides.
• To identify research gaps and future directions in plant bioactive peptide research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies reporting bioactive peptide release from plant-based food products and ingredients.
• Analysis of in vitro digestion data following the INFOGEST protocol.
• Evaluation of reported biological activities and functionalities of plant-derived peptides.

Main Results:

• Most plant-derived bioactive peptides exhibit antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and anti-diabetic activities.
• The review identified key plant sources and processing methods influencing peptide release and bioactivity.
• Significant gaps exist in understanding the structure-function relationships and in vivo effects of plant bioactive peptides.

Conclusions:

• Plant-based foods are a promising source of bioactive peptides with significant health benefits.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the structure-function relationships and optimize the release of these peptides.
• Understanding plant protein digestion can enhance their role as sources of beneficial bioactive peptides.