Unlocking the potential of garlic by-product protein: Ultrasound-induced structural modification and fabrication of an ACE inhibitory peptide targeting endothelial dysfunction

  • Ultrason Sonochem. 2025 Oct 20:123:107642. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2025.107642.
Lu Xiang  1 ,  Zhichang Qiu  2 ,  Zhenjia Zheng  3 ,  Haihua Chen  4 ,  Yiteng Qiao  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Health in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2. Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, 102 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3. Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Health in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4. College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700 Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5. Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Health in Universities of Shandong, College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41151420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2025.107642
Abstract

This study aimed to explore the potential of ultrasound pretreatment to modify garlic by-product proteins and assist in the production of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides with protective effects against endothelial dysfunction. The ultrasound treatment disrupted intermolecular interactions and induced protein unfolding, leading to reduced α-helix content, decreased particle size and zeta potential, and enhanced ACE inhibitory activity of the enzymatic hydrolysates. Following optimal ultrasound-assisted (500 W) enzymatic hydrolysis, HDCF was successfully fabricated using a conventional isolation-purification-identification procedure, demonstrating the practical feasibility of producing computationally predicted peptides. HDCF protected human umbilical vein endothelial cells from Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced oxidative damage by inhibiting intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species production, modulating oxidation-related enzyme expression, and activating the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Furthermore, Ang II-induced inflammatory disorders were effectively mitigated by HDCF, through balancing pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing cell adhesion molecules, and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. HDCF also reduced endothelial Apoptosis by downregulating the ASK1-mediated mitochondrial Apoptosis pathway. These results demonstrate ultrasound-induced modification of garlic proteins, present a sustainable strategy to valorize garlic by-products, and advance our understanding of this garlic-derived peptide in improving endothelial dysfunction for potential applications in functional foods or nutraceuticals.

Keywords
ACE inhibitory peptide; By-product valorization; Endothelial function; Fabrication; Garlic by-product protein; Structural modification; Ultrasound pretreatment.
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