Comparative evaluation of caseinophosphopeptides of cow and buffalo milk for immunomodulatory potential in mice

Milk proteins are known to be the source of a range of bioactive peptides which can be released by enzymatic proteolysis by selective proteases. Caseinophosphopeptides (CPP) are the novel bioactive peptides well known for their mineral binding ability; they also have immunomodulatory properties. In the present study, CPPs isolated from cow and buffalo milk were evaluated for their immunomodulatory potential by carrying out in vivo trials in mice. It has been found that phagocytic activity and lymphocyte proliferation index were increased on feeding cow and buffalo CPP, whereas the mitogenic response of cow CPP was higher as compared to buffalo CPP. Concerning antibody response in the study, there was no effect on ovalbumin (OVA)- and diphtheria-specific IgG levels in sera, whereas there was significant increase in OVA specific and diphtheria specific IgA in intestinal fluid of the mice fed with CPP. Thus this study clearly depicted that both cow and buffalo CPP exhibit immunomodulatory potential by enhancing mucosal immunity.