Identification of peptides with antioxidant and antihypertensive capacities by RP-HPLC-Q-TOF-MS in dry fermented camel sausages inoculated with different starter cultures and ripening times

•First study of the production of bioactive peptides in dry fermented camel sausages.•Ripening time and starter culture affected peptide concentration, size, and activity.•Peptides < 3 kDa showed the highest antioxidant and antihypertensive capabilities.•Highest bioactivities were observed at the end of ripening.•Peptides in fraction < 3 kDa were identified by RP-HPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

Low molecular weight peptides are produced during meat fermentation. They contribute to generate flavor compounds but they can also exert certain bioactivities. The aim of this work was to evaluate, for the first time, the generation of bioactive peptides during the preparation of dry fermented camel sausages and to study the influence of the ripening time and the starter culture on bacteria growing, peptide concentration and size, and antioxidant and antihypertensive capacities of peptides. Camel meat sausages inoculated with different starter bacteria and non-inoculated were ripened up to 28 days. Results demonstrated that bacteria population, peptide concentration, and peptide size were affected by the ripening time and the inoculated bacteria. Moreover, the ripening process resulted in an increasing antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity showing the highest bioactivities in fractions with peptides below 3 kDa. Peptides in these fractions were identified by RP-HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Identified peptides showed common features with peptides with antioxidant or antihypertensive activity.

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