Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 13, Issue 8, 2007

In the last two decades fundamental studies have opened a new field of research related to bioactive food components that not only help ensure adequate nutrition, but may provide specific health benefits [for review: 1]. Bioactive components of food origin can be defined as substances, both nutrient and non-nutrient, which may exert regulative activities in the human organism beyond basic nutrition. In particular, food-derive Read More

Food proteins contain latent biofunctional peptide sequences within their primary structures which may have the ability to exert a physiological response in vivo. A large range of biofunctional peptides have been isolated from food proteins including opioid, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, mineral binding, growth and muscle stimulating, anticancer, proteinase and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) inhibitory Read More

The casein phosphopeptides (CPP) are derived from the milk protein casein by tryptic digestion. The CPP, containing the sequence -Pse-Pse-Pse-Glu-Glu- where Pse is a phosphoseryl residue, stabilize calcium and phosphate ions in aqueous solution and make these essential nutrients bioavailable. Under alkaline conditions the calcium phosphate is present as an alkaline amorphous phase complexed by the CPP, referre Read More

Lactoferrin (Lf), a mammalian iron scavenging defense protein, constitutively is present in exocrine secretions that consistently are exposed to microbial flora: milk, tears, tubotympanum and nasal exudate, saliva, bronchial mucus, gastrointestinal fluids, cervicovaginal mucus, and seminal fluid. Additionally, Lf is promptly delivered by circulating neutrophils to sites of microbial invasion. At these sites, the protein effectively s Read More

A role for the amount and type of dietary protein in the etiology of cancer has not been studied extensively. Nevertheless, there is no compelling evidence from epidemiological studies to indicate that protein, at levels usually consumed, is a risk factor for cancer. On the other hand, animal studies suggest that certain peptides and amino acids derived from dietary proteins may influence carcinogenesis. The predominant pro Read More

Milk proteins are known to exert a wide range of nutritional, functional and biological activities. Apart from being a balanced source of valuable amino acids, milk proteins contribute to the consistency and sensory properties of various dairy products. Furthermore, many milk proteins possess specific biological properties which make them potential ingredients of health-promoting foods. These properties are attributed to both Read More

Mitochondria produce large amounts of free radicals and play an important role in the life and death of a cell. Thus, mitochondrial oxidative damage and dysfunction contribute to a number of cell pathologies that manifest themselves through a range of conditions including ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis, diabetes, atherosclerosis and, consequently, cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In fact, endothelial dysfunction, c Read More

Unlike the more commonly used diuretics, aquaretic agents can induce an increase in urinary volume without incurring a loss of electrolytes. These molecules belong to a family of vasopressin receptor antagonists, V2 in particular, that regulate optional renal water re-absorption via the synthesis and expression of aquaporin-2. In view of their properties, they have become the agent of choice in the treatment of hyponatremic stat Read More