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Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant efficiency of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) protein hydrolysates depend on its degree of hydrolysis in cholesterol-fed rat

2017; Emerald Publishing Limited; Volume: 47; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1108/nfs-04-2016-0046

1758-6917

Sanaa Yahia, Souhila Benomar, Faiza Dehiba, Amine Allaoui, Natalía Guillén, María Jesús Rodríguez-Yoldi, Jesús Osada, Ahmed Boualga,

Proteins in Food Systems

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) protein hydrolysates prepared at two degrees of hydrolysis (DH) on lipoprotein profile and on oxidant status in cholesterol-fed rats. Design/methodology/approach Eighteen male Wistar rats (220 ± 10 g) were divided into three groups and fed for 30 days a diet containing 20 per cent casein supplemented with 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.5 per cent cholic acid. During the experimentation, the first and the second groups received daily by gavage 250 mg of chickpea protein hydrolysates/rat at DH = 8 per cent (CPH8) and DH = 17 per cent (CPH17), respectively. The third group, named control group (CG), received water under the same conditions. Findings Serum total cholesterol concentrations were reduced in CPH8 ( p < 0.0073) and CPH17 ( p < 0.0004) groups versus CG. This reduction corresponded to a lower very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol ( p < 0,0019). CPH17 reduced low-density lipoprotein- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ( p < 0.0001) but increased apolipoprotein A4 ( p < 0.002) concentrations and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity ( p < 0.0001). APOA1 remained unchanged in the treated groups. Liver total and esterified cholesterol contents were twofold lower in both treated groups versus CG. CPH8 increased triacylglycerols and phospholipids ( p < 0.0001) contents, while CPH17 decreased those of unesterified cholesterol ( p < 0.0016). Compared with CG, CPH8 and CPH17 reduced serum ( p < 0.0001) and lipoprotein hydroperoxides by stimulating paraoxonase activity ( p < 0.0001). However, only CPH17 treatment reduced serum, VLDL- and HDL-malondialdehyde contents and improved glutathione peroxidase activity ( p < 0.061). Originality/value Thus, chickpea protein hydrolysates and especially hydrolysed at DH = 17 per cent may have a great potential for use as a nutraceutical to reduce hypercholesterolaemia and, by consequence, oxidative stress. Therefore, the degree of enzymatic hydrolysis has a significant influence on the production of potent bioactive peptides.