Hen eggs (HEs) provide valuable nutrients for humans, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins. Recent studies revealed a number of novel egg-derived proteins/peptides (EDPs), and EDPs may play a crucial role in food industry and medical therapy. First, these EDPs were purified from the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysates of egg proteins and were characterized by biochemical assays such as gel electrophoresis, HPLC, mass spectrometry, proteomic and peptideomic analysis, etc. Second, some EDPs can be used as nontoxic bio-preservatives and functional nutraceuticals for replacing harmful sodium nitrite, inhibiting foodborne pathogens, promoting metal-ion absorption and improving meat-product quality, and these new features will be widely used in the field of food production. Third, novel medical properties of EDPs comprise anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities, which will benefit prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetic mellitus, immune disorders, etc. In summary, this review gives a real insight into the novel nutritional, biological and medical functions of EDPs, predictably facilitating the applications of EDPs in production of nutritive supplements, functional nutraceuticals and therapeutic medicines.
