Abstract
Cancer is one of the main chronic degenerative diseases worldwide. In recent years, consumption of whole-grain cereals and their derivative food products has been associated with a reduced risk of various types of cancer. The main biomolecules in cereals include proteins, peptides, and amino acids, all of which are present in different quantities within the grain. Some of these peptides possess nutraceutical properties and exert biological effects that promote health and prevent cancer. In this review, we report the current status and advances in knowledge regarding the bioactive properties of maize peptides, such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and anti-tumor activities. We also highlight the potential biological mechanisms through which maize bioactive peptides exert anti-cancer activity. Finally, we analyze and emphasize the potential applications of maize peptides.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases are currently the major cause of morbidity worldwide, and will become one of the major causes of mortality by the decade (WHO, 2017)
Rice, barley, rye, and maize have been recently identified as new sources of bioactive peptides
High quality cereal proteins are an important source of bioactive peptides, which consist of distinctive amino acid sequences, and which, once they are released, could display diverse functionalities
Summary
According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases are currently the major cause of morbidity worldwide, and will become one of the major causes of mortality by the decade (WHO, 2017). Cereals contain nutraceutical molecules that can exert specific biological effects and promote health and prevent diseases (Chaturvedi et al, 2011). These biomolecules are proteins and their derivatives, peptides, and amino acids present in different quantities in the grain. Legumes such as soybean are the most studied source of bioactive proteins and peptides due to their high (up to 40%) average protein content (Cavazos and Gonzalez de Mejia, 2013). In addition to their nutritional roles, these peptides could perform biological activities (Dia and Mejia, 2010)
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