Peptides with antioxidant properties identified from casein, whey, and egg albumin hydrolysates generated by two novel fungal proteases

There are many diseases linked to oxidative stress, including cancer. Importantly, endogenous antioxidants are insufficient to protect against this process. Peptides derived from food proteins produced by hydrolysis have been investigated as exogenous antioxidants. The present study aimed to identify novel peptides with antioxidant potential produced from egg and milk proteins hydrolysis with two new fungal proteases isolated from Eupenicillium javanicum and Myceliophthora thermophila. The degree of hydrolysis at several time points was calculated and correlated to DPPH scavenging and metal chelating assays, all hydrolysates presented antioxidant activity. Casein hydrolyzed by the M. thermophila protease showed the best antioxidant activity. The identified sequences showed that the proportions of amino acids that influence antioxidant activity support the antioxidant assay. Our data reveal the conditions necessary for the successful generation of antioxidant peptides using two novel fungal proteases. This opens a potential new avenue for the design and manufacture of antioxidant molecules.