Influence of In Vitro Digestion on Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) Inhibitory Activity of Plant-Protein Hydrolysates Obtained from Agro-Industrial By-Products

This study investigates the production of protein hydrolysates with dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity from agro-industrial by-products, namely olive seed, sunflower seed, rapeseed, and lupin meals, as well as from two plant protein isolates such as pea and potato. Furthermore, the effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the DPP-IV inhibitory activity of all the hydrolysates was evaluated. Overall, the lowest values of IC₅₀ (1.02 ± 0.09 – 1.24 ± 0.19 mg protein/mL) were observed for the hydrolysates with a high proportion of short-chain [< 1 kDa] peptides (i.e., olive seed, sunflower seed, and lupin) or high content of proline (i.e., rapeseed). Contrarily, the IC₅₀ of the pea and potato hydrolysates was significantly higher (1.50 ± 0.13 – 1.93 ± 0.13 mg protein/mL). In vitro digestion led to an increase in peptides <1 kDa for almost all hydrolysates (except olive and sunflower seed meals), which was noticeable for rapeseed, pea, and potato hydrolysates. Digestion did not significantly modify the DPP-IV inhibitory activity of olive, sunflower, rapeseed, and potato hydrolysates, whereas a significant decrease in IC₅₀ value was obtained for pea hydrolysate and a significant increase in IC₅₀ was obtained for lupin hydrolysate. Thus, this work shows the potential of agro-industrial by-products for the production of protein hydrolysates exhibiting DPP-IV inhibition.