Exploring the novel antioxidant peptides in low-salt dry-cured ham: Preparation, purification, identification and molecular docking

•DD12 in low-salt ham was identified as a stable, non-toxic antioxidant peptide.•DD12 showed scavenging rates of 60.32 % (DPPH•) and 76.58 % (ABTS•+) at 3 mg/mL.•Molecular docking predicted that DD12 can interact with the Keap1 protein.•Binding interactions explained the DPPH• and ABTS•+-scavenging activity of DD12.•Low-salt ham would be a potential source of natural antioxidant peptides. Dry-cured ham is important source of bioactive peptides. In this study, the antioxidant activities of peptides and components from low and fully salted dry-cured hams were compared by peptidomics. And novel antioxidant peptides were identified and characterized. The results showed that the peptides (