Antioxidant properties of wheat germ protein hydrolysates evaluated in vitro

Wheat germ protein hydrolysates were prepared by protease hydrolysis, ultrafiltration and dynamical adsorption of resin. The total amount of amino acids in 100 g wheat germ protein hydrolysates is 93.95 g. Wheat germ protein hydrolysates are primarily composed of 4 fractions: 17.78% in the relative molecular mass range of 11 563 1 512, 17.50% in 1512 - 842, 27.38% in 842 - 372 and 30.65% in 372 - 76, respectively. The antioxidant properties of wheat germ protein hydrolysates were evaluated by using different antioxidant tests in vitro. 1.20 g/L wheat germ protein hydrolysates exhibit 78.75% inhibition of peroxidation in linolei acid system; and 1.6 g/L wheat germ protein hydrolysates show 81.11% scavenging effect on the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhrazyi radical. The reducing power of 2.50 g/L wheat germ protein hydrolysates is 0.84. Furthermore, the scavenging activity of 0.60 g/L wheat germ protein hydrolysates against superoxide radical is 75.40%; 0.50 g/L wheat germ protein hydrolysates exhibit 63.35% chelating effect on ferrous ion. These antioxidant activities of wheat germ protein hydrolsates increase with the increase of its concentration. Experimental results suggest that wheat germ protein hydrolysate is a suitable natural antioxidant rich in nutrition and nontoxic.