Deia Tawalbeh, Muhammad Hussin Alu'datt, Wan Amir Nizam Wan Ahmad, Mannur Ismail Shaik, Nanda Kumar Yellapu, Hendrix Yulis Setyawan, Nurul Huda, Norizah Mhd Sarbon
This study aimed to assess the isolation, purification, characterization and acute toxicity study of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) peptides with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACE-I) activity prepared through ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis by alcalase. The ultrasonicated chickpea protein hydrolysate (UCPH) was purified sequentially using ultrafiltration (UF) and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The <3 kDa fraction (UCPH-1) from UF, showing vigorous ACE-I activity (85.82 % ± 0.03, IC₅₀: 0.35 mg/mL), was further purified by FPLC. The most active FPLC fraction, F6 (95.76 % ± 0.22, IC₅₀: 0.20 mg/mL), was identified as the peptide MLRVYLR (UCPH-1-F6). This peptide remained stable (91.1 %) after gastrointestinal digestion and acted as a competitive ACE inhibitor. In addition, molecular docking showed MLRVYLR forms Pi-interactions and hydrogen bonds with ACE, and it exhibited no acute oral toxicity. Based on these results, the purified peptide from hydrolysed chickpea protein treated with ultrasound exhibits possible anti-hypertensive characteristics and could be utilised in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.
Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, 21030, Malaysia; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Box 5969, Safat, 13060, Kuwait; School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kelantan, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Malaysia; ICMR-Vector Control Research Center, Puducherry, 605006, India; Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Postgraduate School, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
