Low-allergenic hydrolysates of whey proteins with natural bioactive peptides

Abstract

Hydrolysate of whey protein concentrate (WPC) has been obtained under conditions that ensure retention of natural bioactive peptides. Prior to this, the WPC was characterised by electrophoresis, which revealed the presence of major whey proteins that can cause allergies and be precursors of bioactive peptides. The electrophoretic studies have allowed establishing that by the 120th minute, the proteolysis of the main protein allergens was almost complete. That is why this sample of WPC hydrolysate was used for further studies. Sephadex G-50 gel filtration has shown that 23.4% to 27.5% of proteolytic products soluble in trichloroacetic acid are low-molecular-weight peptides with a molecular weight up to 1500 Da, while the control WPC sample contains less than 3 % of them. The hydrolysate obtained under physiological conditions was tested for allergenicity. The study was conducted in 18 rats divided into three groups. Animals of the first group (control) were given water, the second group whey protein concentrate, the third group pancreatin hydrolysate of whey proteins. According to the results of the experiment, the concentration of IgE in the 2nd group is significantly higher compared with the control (49%), and in the 3rd group, does not differ from the control values. To detect possible sensitisation in the experimental animals, we used the specific leucocyte agglomeration reaction, the leucocyte specific lysis reaction, the values of the change in the concentration of circulating immune complexes, and the neutrophil damage index. The studies have shown that in the animals receiving WPC hydrolysate, no signs of an allergic reaction were detected, while the animals sensitised with WPC developed type I hypersensitivity (by the value of the IgE content).