Anti-inflammatory properties of potato protein hydrolysates in cellular and animal models

Abstract

Inflammation is a series of non-specific immune responses and irregular inflammation can lead to injury and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. TNF-α is one of the primary pro-inflammatory cytokines mediating inflammatory responses including release of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, potato protein hydrolysates produced with 8 proteases were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activities using mice ANA-1 and C57BL/6 mice primary cell models and inflammatory BALB/c mice model. The potato protein hydrolysates suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release and ROS secretion in the cells. The potato protein hydrolysate produced with ficin (HFic) exhibited a dosage-dependent pattern in inhibiting the release of TNF-α in both cell models. Intraperitoneal administration of HFic to BALB/c mice resulted in the dose-dependent reduction in the amount of cytokines including TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12 in the mice serum and peritoneal fluid. These finding indicate that the potato protein hydrolysates possess physiological anti-inflammatory properties. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity was not clear, but the in vitro and physiological antioxidative activities of the hydrolysates suggest possible interaction with oxidative stress. HFic was found to be potentially stable to gastric proteases based on HPLC analysis, which would encourage future studies on oral delivery of the hydrolysates.