Downstream Processing of Bioactive Compounds from Milk and Whey

Bioactive peptides are specific protein fragments that have a positive impact on functions and conditions and may ultimately influence health. Milk protein derived active biological constituents, bioactive peptides, has received much attention for the biological significances. Milk peptides have shown to possess multiple physiological and physicochemical properties and are therefore regarded as very important constituents for incorporation in functional and novel foods, dietary supplements and even pharmaceuticals with the purpose of targeting specific diseases. The current review will be focusing on the different processes used for fractionation and purification of the bioactive peptides derived from milk and milk products. At lab-scale, techniques usually followed to concentrate/purify bioactive peptides are Ultrafiltration membranes, Mass exclusion chromatography, Ion-exchange chromatography, Affinity chromatography and High-performance liquid chromatography and can be used in different combinations at the industrial scale.