Recent Findings on the Isolation, Identification and Quantification of Bioactive Peptides

Abstract

Due to the growing interest in natural sources of health-enhancing compounds, bioactive proteins and peptides derived from them are being explored and clinically tried as candidates for functional food development. This is promoted by the higher safety profile, biocompatibility and acceptability by consumers. The stability, transepithelial transport and biological activities of protein hydrolysates and their peptides are dependent on the sources and physicochemical properties which depend on the method of protein isolation, and peptide preparation, identification and quantification. Considering some limitations of conventional peptide identification and quantification, a number of novel methods are recently developed to enhance peptide preparation from small quantities of proteins. We present here, a discussion on nature and sources, novel methods of isolation, identification and quantification and applications of bioactive proteins and peptides. These novel techniques have demonstrated to have the capacity to improve upon the limitations associated with peptide isolation, identification and quantification. However, the wide and common use of these new techniques are limited by high cost and high technicality required for operating them.