Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of sunflower seed protein hydrolysates on Caco-2 intestinal cells

• Grant number: 22/01204-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Andrea Barrera Galland
• Grantee: Daniel Saraiva Lopes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/01896-4 - Study of the anti-inflammatory action of peptides derived from whey on glial cells, AP.JP

Abstract

Sunflower, an oilseed crop mainly intended for the production of oils for human consumption and biofuel, presents several bioactive compounds that can bring benefits to the consumer health. One of the most targeted physiological properties of food compounds is antioxidant activity, since oxidative stress is one of the main factors involved in chronic degenerative diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. The hydrolysis of sunflower isolate proteins can expose specific protein sites with antioxidant properties and represent a promising alternative for the prevention/treatment of this disease. As an initial study model for the evaluation of antioxidant activity, in vitro chemical assays, or cell culture models, are suggested, which add the intrinsic biological factors of a cell and interaction with the test compound. The Caco-2 cell is a cell lineage model for the study of enterocytes, and corresponds to the first cell type to come into contact with metabolites from the digestive/food process. Due to these characteristics, this cell type becomes vulnerable/susceptible to oxidative stress, representing a good study model for the evaluation of antioxidant properties. Therefore, in the literature, there is little information about the potential antioxidant effects that sunflower bioactive peptides cause in Caco-2 cells after the simulated digestion process. The proteins will be hydrolyzed using an internationally standardized in vitro digestion model (INFOGEST) and the potential antioxidant action of the peptides generated against oxidative stress will be verified in a study model using Caco 2 cells.