The role of molecular size in antioxidant activity of peptide fractions from Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) hydrolysates.

Abstract The antioxidative properties of Pacific hake hydrolysates and their peptidic fractions varying in molecular size were assessed. Hydrolysates produced by different proteases (Alcalase, bromelain, Flavourzyme, Protamex, Protease A“Amano”2, Protease N“Amano”K, Protin SD NY10, Umamizyme-K, Validase BNP-L, Validase FPexo) generally possessed good metal ion chelating (33–73% at 3 mg/ml), DPPH radical scavenging (18–30% at 1 mg/ml), ferric ion reducing power (abs 700nm 0.36–0.86 at 3 mg/ml) and ABTS radical scavenging (47–85% at 0.067 mg/ml) activity, as well as a good capability to suppress lipid peroxidation in a linoleic acid model system. Peptide size (