Functional properties of melanoidins: In vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and antihypertensive activities

Melanoidins formed at the last stage of the Maillard reaction have been pointed out to possess certain functional properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antihypertensive activities. In order to gain more insights on these functional properties different soluble melanoidins and melanoidin fractions isolated from several amino acid–glucose model systems has been analysed In the case of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, low molecular weight compounds bounded to melanoidins (BMC fraction) exerts antioxidant and antimicrobial activities usually higher than those of the pure melanoidins to whom they are linked. Contrary, in the case of antihypertensive activity it has been found that the main activity is related to the melanoidin core, not to BMC fraction. In addition it has been found no correlation, except for ABTS assay, among colour and antioxidant, antimicrobial or antihypertensive activity, supporting the idea that melanoidin chromophores are not responsible for these actions.