Antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities of chickpea protein hydrolysate (CPH)

Chickpea protein hydrolysate (CPH) was fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25. The antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities of four CPH fractions (Fra.I, Fra.II, Fra.III, and Fra.IV) were measured using reducing power, inhibition of linoleic acid autoxidation, and 1,1-diphenyl-2- pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH)/superoxide/hydroxyl radical-scavenging assay. The antioxidant activity of Fra.IV (81.13%) was closer to that of α-tocopherol (83.66%) but lower than that of BHT (99.71%) in the linoleic acid oxidation system. Amino acid analyses showed that Fra.IV with the strongest antioxidant activity also had the highest total hydrophobic amino acids content (38.94% THAA) and hydrophobicity (125.62 kcal/mol amino acid residue) compared with the other three fractions. The molecular weight distribution of Fra.IV was found to vary from 200 to 3000 Da.