Isolation, characterization, and therapeutic use of milk bioactive peptides

Milk bioactive peptides are short chains of amino acids derived from milk proteins, exhibiting a range of biological activities. These peptides have garnered significant interest due to their potential therapeutic benefits. They can be naturally released during digestion or produced through enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, or recombinant technologies. Various methods, including chromatography, electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry, are employed to isolate and characterize these peptides. These bioactive peptides have demonstrated numerous health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, antithrombotic, and neuroprotective effects. Their ability to enhance mineral bioavailability, support gut health, and exhibit anti-cancer and hypocholesterolemic properties further highlights their therapeutic potential. The integration of milk-derived peptides into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical formulations offers promising avenues for disease prevention and management. Ongoing research focuses on optimizing their bioavailability, stability, and delivery systems to maximize their efficacy. This review provides an overview of the extraction techniques, biological activities, and potential applications of milk bioactive peptides in human health.