Potential role of bioactive peptides in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases: a narrative review

Abstract

In the past few years, increasing interest has been directed to bioactive peptides of animal and plant origin: in particular, researchers have focused their attention on their mechanisms of action and potential role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and infective diseases. We have developed a search strategy to identify these studies in PubMed (January 1980 to May 2016); particularly those papers presenting comprehensive reviews or meta-analyses, plus in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials on those bioactive peptides that affect cardiovascular diseases, immunity or cancer, or have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. In this review we have mostly focused on evidence-based healthy properties of bioactive peptides from different sources. Bioactive peptides derived from fish, milk, meat and plants have demonstrated significant antihypertensive and lipid-lowering activity in clinical trials. Many bioactive peptides show selective cytotoxic activity against a wide range of cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, whereas others have immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects. Furthermore, some peptides exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, which could aid in the prevention of chronic diseases. However, clinical evidence is at an early stage, and there is a need for solid pharmacokinetic data and for standardized extraction procedures. Further studies on animals and randomized clinical trials are required to confirm these effects, and enable these peptides to be used as preventive or therapeutic treatments.

Linked articles: This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc.

Figure 1

Main bioactive peptides that have been shown to lower blood pressure: proposed mechanisms of action. ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; eNOS, endothelial NOS; RVP, renal venous pressure; EF, glutamate‐ phenylalanine; FY, phenylalanine‐ tyrosine; IKP, isoleucine‐lysine‐proline; IPP, isoleucine‐proline‐proline; IR, isoleucine‐arginine; IY, isoleucine‐tyrosine; KF, lysine‐phenylalanine; LKP, leucine‐lysine‐proline; LRP, leucine‐arginine‐proline; LVY, leucine‐valine‐tyrosine; VPP, valine‐proline‐proline; VY, valine‐tyrosine; WYT, tryptophan‐tyrosine‐threonine.

Figure 2

Main bioactive peptides that have been shown to have a beneficial effect on cholesterol metabolism: proposed mechanisms of action. APO, apolipoprotein; HMG‐CoA, hydroxymethylglutaril‐CoA; IDL, intermediate‐density lipoprotein; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein; LDL‐R, low‐density lipoprotein‐receptor; LRP‐R, low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein – receptor; NPC1L1, Niemann‐pick C1‐like 1; VLDL, very low‐density lipoprotein.

Figure 3

Anti‐inflammatory effects of bioactive peptides: main proposed mechanisms of action. ERK‐AP1, ERK‐activator protein 1; ICAM, intracellular adhesion molecule; IKK, IκB kinase; p38‐Elk‐1/ATF‐2, protein 38‐Elk‐1/activating transcription factor 2; VCAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule.