Evaluation of lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum) hydrolysates as antioxidants against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative injury

Four different lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum) protein hydrolysates (LPHs) were obtained by treating the fresh whole fish with Protease A, Protease N, Prozyme 6 or Protamex. The Protease-N treated LPHs showed strong antioxidant activities in the assays of DPPH radical scavenging, Fe2+ chelation, reducing power and SOD-like activity. The sequences of two short oligopeptides with highest antioxidant activity were identified to be Phe-Tyr-Tyr and Asp-Trp. Through an in vitro pepsin–pancreatin simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion, we found that both the content and chelating activity of LPHs in the range of ≦700Da increased, indicating that the Protease N-treated LPHs can resist the GI digestion and retain the antioxidant activity. In a H2O2 toxicity test, LPHs were shown able to prevent H2O2-induced DNA damage, whereby the survival rate of neuroblastoma cells (SHSY5Y) significantly increased and the neural synapse outgrowth improved in a dose-dependent manner. LPHs are thus concluded to be high value-added antioxidants and possessed the potential benefit to prevent neurodegenerative disorders from oxidation-induced damage. •LPHs with molecular weight less than 1500Da exhibited high antioxidant activities.•The most active components from LPHs were identified as Phe-Tyr-Tyr and Asp-Trp.•LPHs could pass the pepsin–pancreatin GI tract simulation test.•LPHs prevented H2O2-induced DNA damage and increase the survival rate of SHSY5Y.•LPHs could use as an ideal source for anti-aging functional foods.