The presence of bioactive peptides in hydrolysates prepared from processing waste of sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

A proteolytic enzyme, Alcalase(R), was used to produce partly digested proteins from cooked wastes of sardine (Sardina pilchardus). The presence of biologically active molecules was investigated in these hydrolysates prepared under various conditions of time and enzyme/substrate ratio. By means of radioimmunoassays and mitogenic and radioreceptor assays, the presence of molecules related to secretagogue peptides, growth factors and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) respectively was detected in the hydrolysates. Exclusion chromatography permits the conclusion that the biological activity of the different fractions is related to their size. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.