High-Value Transformation of Rice-Derived Bioactive Peptides for Multiscenario Applications: From AI-Aided Design to...

Rice-derived bioactive peptides are gaining attention for their nutritional value, low allergenicity, and multifunctional health benefits. However, large-scale utilization remains constrained by challenges such as low protein extraction efficiency, limited peptide yields, and poor structural stability. This review summarizes recent advances in the valorization of rice proteins into functional peptides, with a focus on emerging technologies including enzymatic hydrolysis optimization, AI-assisted peptide design, and polyphenol-mediated molecular modification. These approaches offer solutions to improve thermal stability, reduce aggregation, and enhance bioactivity. The review further explores its multiscenario applications in AI-driven design and modification, cosmetics, biomedicine, and functional foods, where rice peptides demonstrate promising application potential in antioxidant defense, blood pressure regulation, collagen synthesis, and heavy metal adsorption. By integrating molecular design, processing innovation, and application development, this work provides a comprehensive perspective on the high-value transformation of rice by-products and supports the advancement of sustainable rice peptide technologies.