Amaranth, quinoa and chia bioactive peptides: a comprehensive review on three ancient grains and their potential role in management and prevention of Type 2 diabetes

Worldwide prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) has become a major concern with several implications for public health, economy, and social well-being, especially in developing countries. Conventional pharmacological management of T2D have proved effective, but possess underlying side effects, leading the scientific community to research alternative compounds that exert beneficial effects on current therapeutic targets of T2D. Bioactive peptides (BAPs) from food sources, have shown relative advantages in this matter, moreover, BAPs have proved to impart anti-diabetic activity through one or more mechanisms such as enzymatic inhibition of alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase and DPP-IV. Several plants and animal have been used as protein sources of anti-diabetic BAPs, in the sense of this matter, the pseudo-cereals amaranth and quinoa, along with the ancestral grain chia, have gained attention. Due, to their high protein content and balanced amino-acid composition, along with proved anti-diabetic features, the three seeds are top choices for the obtention of anti-diabetic BAPs. With a comprehensive overview of the most recent reported in silico and in vitro anti-diabetic studies in relation to biomarkers alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase and DPP-IV, the present review aims to examine the current knowledge of amaranth, quinoa and chia derived anti-diabetic BAPs and their effects on T2D therapeutic markers.

Automated summary

The worldwide prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) has become a global concern, particularly in developing countries. Bioactive peptides (BAPs) derived from food sources, such as amaranth, quinoa, and chia, show potential as anti-diabetic compounds due to their high protein content and proven anti-diabetic properties.