Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Low-Molecular-Weight Soybean Peptides Suppresses Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis of Murine Myoblast C2C12 Cells Possibly via AMPK Activation

Skeletal muscle health is essential for metabolic homeostasis, and dysregulated apoptosis in muscle cells can lead to muscle wasting and degenerative diseases. Although soybean-derived peptides are known for their bioactive properties, including antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects, their impact on apoptosis regulation in skeletal muscle cells remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of low-molecular-weight soy peptide hydrolysate (SPH) on apoptosis and related markers in C2C12 myoblasts. SPH was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis, and its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities were analyzed through <i>in vitro</i> assays (i.e., ABTS, DPPH). Cellular studies were used to evaluate SPH effects on ROS scavenging and apoptosis. Results show that SPH enhanced antioxidant activity, reduced ROS levels, and promoted cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. SPH notably decreased apoptosis under oxidative stress by down-regulating p53, c-Caspase-3, and Cyto-c, while promoting HO-1 expression, likely via AMPK activation. Importantly, SPH had no significant impact on inflammation-related proteins or MAPK activation. These findings suggest that SPH may have therapeutic potential against oxidative stress and apoptosis in muscle cells through intrinsic pathways, contributing to muscle health maintenance.