Cytotoxic and antioxidant capacity of camel milk peptides: Effects of isolated peptide on superoxide dismutase and catalase gene expression

- 3 peptides were identified from camel milk protein hydrolysate with low toxicity and high antioxidant effect on HepG2 cells.
- Sequences of the three peptides were LEEQQQTEDEQQDQL (MW: 1860.85 Da, LL-15), YLEELHRLNAGY (MW: 1477.63 Da, YY-11), and RGLHPVPQ (MW: 903.04 Da, RQ-8).
- Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of peptides were examined. Peptides showed lower toxicity to cancer cells.
- The results revealed a significant increase in the expression of SOD and CAT genes in treated HepG2 cells, and this is indicative of the high antioxidant effect of peptides.

Peptides from natural sources such as milk are shown to have a wide spectrum of biological activities. In this study, three peptides with antioxidant capacity were identified from camel milk protein hydrolysate. Pepsin and pancreatin were used for hydrolysis of milk proteins. Ultrafiltration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography were used for the concentration and purification of the hydrolysate, respectively. Sequences of the three peptides, which were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight spectrophotometry, were LEEQQQTEDEQQDQL [molecular weight (MW): 1860.85 Da, LL-15], YLEELHRLNAGY (MW: 1477.63 Da, YY-11), and RGLHPVPQ (MW: 903.04 Da, RQ-8). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these chemically synthesized peptides against HepG2 cells. In vitro analysis showed antioxidant properties and radical scavenging activities of these peptides on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)+, O2-, and OH- free radicals. HepG2 cells were treated with YY-11 peptide for 48 hours, and the expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase genes was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed a significant increase in the expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase genes in treated HepG2 cells.

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