Structural Characterization and Evaluation of Interfacial Properties of Pea Protein Isolate–EGCG Molecular Complexes

There is increasing interest in using plant-derived proteins in foods and beverages for environmental, health, and ethical reasons. However, the inherent physicochemical properties and functional performance of many plant proteins limit their widespread application. Here, we prepared pea protein isolate (PPI) dispersions using a combined pH-shift/heat treatment method, and then, prepared PPI-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) complexes under neutral conditions. Spectroscopy, calorimetry, molecular docking, and light scattering analysis demonstrated that the molecular complexes formed spontaneously. This was primarily ascribed to hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. The complexation of EGCG caused changes in the secondary structure of PPI, including the reduction in the α-helix and increase in the β-sheet and disordered regions. These changes slightly decreased the thermal stability of the protein. With the accretion of EGCG, the hydrophilicity of the complexes increased significantly, which improved the functional attributes of the protein. Optimization of the PPI-to-EGCG ratio led to the complexes having better foaming and emulsifying properties than the protein alone. This study could broaden the utilization of pea proteins as functional ingredients in foods. Moreover, protein–polyphenol complexes can be used as multifunctional ingredients, such as antioxidants or nutraceutical emulsifiers.