Bioactive peptides generated by lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

Numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, have a significant influence on the health of people worldwide. Along with numerous preventive and therapeutic drug treatments, important advances have been achieved in the identification of bioactive peptides (BP) that may contribute to long-term health. Biopeptides with various biological activities have been found in several food matrices and by-products. Since microbial fermentation is one of the mechanisms for BP generation, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) arise as an ideal cell factory for their production. This chapter reviews the generation and biofunctional properties of various BP derived from meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, together with some other food substrates as beans and pseudo-cereals, which had been generated by several strains of LAB. Many apprehensions regarding their functionality and health-claims have been also considered.