Antioxidant peptides profile in dry-cured ham as affected by gastrointestinal digestion

Dry-cured hams are a good source of bioactive peptides, whose stability to gastrointestinal (GI) digestion determines their bioaccessibility and thus their bioavailability to exert beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vitro GI digestion of dry-cured hams on the peptide profiles and their antioxidant activity. Results showed that the antioxidant activity decreased in the digested samples when measured by DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power methods, but increased when assayed by ABTS radical scavenging assay. Chromatographic and mass spectrometry analysis revealed changes in the peptide profiles and evidenced the degradation of proteins, mainly titin, by the digestive enzymes. The study of the peptide profiles before and after digestion of dry-cured hams would help to extend the knowledge about the influence of peptide characteristics on their antioxidant activity and resistance to hydrolysis by digestive enzymes, allowing a better understanding of the bioaccessibility of the bioactive peptides generated in dry-cured hams.