Enzymatic hydrolysates from camel colostrum and milk proteins display inhibitory activity toward a key enzyme related to obesity

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity potential of camel colostrum and milk proteins as well as their enzymatic hydrolysates. Camel colostrum and milk proteins were treated using six proteolytic enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, pancreatin, papain, and pronase). The degree of hydrolysis was measured to verify the degradation of proteins. The in vitro anti-obesity activity was evaluated using the pancreatic lipase inhibitory assay. Camel colostrum and milk protein hydrolysates exhibited different degrees of hydrolysis ranging from 17.69 to 43.97%. The protein content varied between 56.08–61.95% and 37.39–41.72% for camel colostrum and milk protein hydrolysates, respectively. The hydrolysates displayed significantly higher anti-obesity activity than the undigested proteins at all tested concentrations (P < 0.05). Colostrum protein hydrolysate generated with pancreatin had the highest anti-obesity potential (59.92%). These results suggest that colostrum and milk protein hydrolysates could be used to formulate functional foods and nutraceuticals.