Rice protein stimulates endogenous antioxidant response attributed to methionine availability in growing rats

Methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) and glutathione (GSH) are two endogenous antioxidant systems for depressing oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of methionine in involving the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant capacity of rice protein (RP). Seven‐week‐old male Wistar rats (body weight 180–200 g) were fed with commercial pellets (as control), methionine, and RP for 2 weeks. Compared with control, GSH synthesis and expressions of MsrA, MsrB2, and MsrB3 were stimulated by methionine and RP. After 2 weeks of feeding, Nrf2 was activated by RP and methionine, whereas the expressions of Keap1 and Cul3 were depressed. The ARE‐driven antioxidant expressions (GCLC, GCLM, GS, HO‐1, NQO1, CAT, SOD, GR, GST, GPx) were upregulated by methionine and RP. Results suggest that the endogenous antioxidant response induced by RP is primarily attributed to the methionine availability, in which the stimulation of Msr and GSH antioxidant system via Nrf2‐ARE pathway. Practical applications Rice protein is a major plant protein, which is rich in sulfur‐containing amino acids and widely consumed in the world. This paper emphasizes that the amino acid plays a key role in inducing the antioxidant activity of rice protein. The present study provides an insight that the methionine availability of rice protein will be a useful target for health promoting by activating endogenous antioxidant response against ROS‐induced oxidative damage. Rice protein is a major plant protein, which is rich in sulfur‐containing amino acids and widely consumed throughout the world. This paper emphasizes that methionine plays a key role in inducing the antioxidant activity of rice protein. The present study demonstrates that rice protein stimulates endogenous antioxidant response dependent on methionine availability via activating Nrf2‐ARE antioxidant pathway.