Summary

High potency, specificity and a good safety profile are the main strengths of bioactive peptides as new and promising therapies that may fill the gap between small molecules and protein drugs. These positive attributes of peptides, along with advances in drug delivery technologies, have contributed to a renewed interest in the discovery, optimization and development of peptides as pharmacological therapy. The entry collection aims to cover all aspects of peptide research in relation to health promotion.

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Entries
Topic Review
Application of Amphibian Skin and Skin Secretion
Amphibians have been consumed as an alternative protein source all around the world due to their delicacy. The skin of edible amphibians, particularly frogs and giant salamanders, always goes to waste without further utilization. However, these wastes can be utilized to extract protein and bioactive peptides (BPs). Various BPs have been extracted and reported for numerous biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, etc. The main BPs identified were brevinins, bombesins, dermaseptins, esculentins, magainin, temporins, tigerinins, and salamandrins. 
  • 472
  • 24 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Formation of Oxidative Compounds in Fish Protein Hydrolysates
There is a significant potential to increase the sustainability of the fishing and aquaculture industries through the maximization of the processing of byproducts. Enzymatic hydrolysis provides an opportunity to valorize downstream fish industry byproducts for the production of protein hydrolysates (FPH) as a source of bioactive peptides (BAP) with health benefits. Deteriorative oxidative reactions may occur during the enzymatic hydrolysis of byproducts, influencing the safety or bioactivities of the end product. Lipid oxidation, autolysis mediated by endogenous enzymes in viscera, protein degradation, and formation of low-molecular-weight metabolites are the main reactions that are expected to occur during hydrolysis and need to be controlled. 
  • 504
  • 10 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Use of Green Antimicrobials in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most serious and devastating complications of diabetes and account for a significant decrease in quality of life and costly healthcare expenses worldwide. This condition affects around 15% of diabetic patients and is one of the leading causes of lower limb amputations. DFUs generally present poor clinical outcomes, mainly due to the impaired healing process and the elevated risk of microbial infections which leads to tissue damage. Antimicrobial resistance poses a rising threat to global health, thus hampering DFU treatment and care. Faced with this reality, it is pivotal to find greener and less environmentally impactful alternatives for fighting these resistant microbes. Antimicrobial peptides are small molecules that play a crucial role in the innate immune system of the host and can be found in nature. Some of these molecules have shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and wound-healing activity, making them good potential therapeutic compounds to treat DFUs. 
  • 492
  • 03 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Potential Hypoglycemic Mechanism of Bioactive Legume Peptides
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by a persistent over-normal level of blood glucose that causes impressive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Persistent hyperglycemia imposes damage on other organs, such as the eye, heart, kidney, and skin, as well as the nervous system, and is strongly correlated with a myriad of diabetes-related complications. Legumes, as an excellent source of protein, peptides, and phytochemicals, have played significant roles in human health throughout human history. Some legume-derived peptides with encouraging anti-diabetic potential have been gradually reported. Their hypoglycemic mechanisms have also been clarified at some classic diabetes treatment targets, such as the insulin receptor signaling pathway or other related pathways involved in the progress of diabetes, and key enzymes including α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4)
  • 390
  • 28 Feb 2023
Topic Review
MiRNA-Encoded Peptide Discovery and Functions
microRNAs (MiRNAs) are small endogenous single-stranded RNAs (20 to 22 nucleotides) that are involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing in eukaryotes. They allow the downregulation of target genes by specifically triggering the degradation of their messenger RNAs (mRNAs) or by inhibiting their translation. Most plant species have several hundred annotated miRNA genes. miRNA primary transcripts were recently shown to contain functional short Open Reading Frames producing regulatory peptides called miRNA-encoded Peptides (miPEPs).
  • 496
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Cyclic Glycine-Proline Is a Bioactive Peptide
The reversible binding of IGF-1 to IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 regulates the amount of bioavailable, functional IGF-1 in circulation. Cyclic glycine-proline (cGP), a metabolite from the binding site of IGF-1, retains its affinity for IGFBP-3 and competes against IGF-1 for IGFBP-3 binding. Thus, cGP and IGFBP-3 collectively regulate the bioavailability of IGF-1. The molar ratio of cGP/IGF-1 represents the amount of bioavailable and functional IGF-1 in circulation. 
  • 479
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Peptide Drug Conjugates in Cancer Therapy
Drug conjugates have become a significant focus of research in the field of targeted medicine for cancer treatments. Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), a subset of drug conjugates, are composed of carrier peptides ranging from 5 to 30 amino acid residues, toxic payloads, and linkers that connect the payload to the peptide. PDCs are further broken down into cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cell-targeting peptides (CTPs), each having their own differences in the delivery of cytotoxic payloads. Generally, PDCs as compared to other drug conjugates—like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)—have advantages in tumor penetration, ease of synthesis and cost, and reduced off-target effects. Further, as compared to traditional cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy and radiation), PDCs have higher specificity for the target cancer with generally less toxic side effects in smaller doses. 
  • 520
  • 19 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Nanoformulation of Peptides
Several polymeric nanoparticles have been utilized as potential carriers for peptides and are used for the peptide formulation in controlled and targeted delivery applications. Nanoformulated peptides are reported to improve drug administration, where the drugs are either dissolved, entrapped, encapsulated, or attached to drug carriers.
  • 407
  • 17 Jan 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Melatonin in Pregnancy
Melatonin is a lipophilic hormone synthesized and secreted mainly in the pineal gland, acting as a neuroendocrine transducer of photoperiodic information during the night. In addition to this activity, melatonin has shown an antioxidant function and a key role as a regulator of physiological processes related to human reproduction. Several studies have evaluated its role in ovarian dysfunction, ovarian ageing, embryo maturation and gynecological cancer. 
  • 669
  • 01 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Anti-Cancer Peptides as Immunomodulatory Agents
The usage of peptide-based drugs to combat cancer is gaining significance in the pharmaceutical industry. The collateral damage caused to normal cells due to the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. has given an impetus to the search for alternative methods of cancer treatment.
  • 579
  • 23 Dec 2022
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