Nutritional Profiling and Cytotoxicity Assessment of Protein Rich Ingredients Used as Dietary Supplements
Source abstract
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific community has made significant progress in understanding nutrition, leading consumers to shift their preferences away from animal-based protein products and towards natural, plant-based protein sources. This study aimed to determine the nutritional value, in vitro cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity for different sources of high protein content products (pea, yeast, almond, spirulina and Pleurotus spp.) with potential usage as raw materials for dietary supplements, especially since these products do not benefit from stricter regulation requirements regarding their actual health benefits. The characterization of raw materials consisted in evaluation of their nutritional profile (by addressing moisture content, crude protein content, extractable fat, ash, carbohydrates) and microbial contamination (TAMC, TYMC, Enterobacteriaceae and β-glucuronidase positive Escherichia coli), total content of free amino acids, soluble proteins, phenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity through chemical assays. We used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release to evaluate the potential cytotoxicity of selected raw materials. Results obtained indicate high percentages of proteins for the pea powder (77.96%) and Spirulina powder (64.79%), Pleurotus spp. flour had strong antioxidant activity, while the highest contamination values were registered for Pleurotus spp. powder (4.6 × 105 CFU/g or 5.66 log CFU/g). Cytotoxicity results demonstrate that tested ingredients have an impact on the metabolic activity of cells, affecting cellular integrity and provoking leakage of DNA at several concentrations. While plant-based protein supplementation may appear to be a promising solution to balance our busy lives, there are several advantages and disadvantages associated with them, including issues related to their absorption rate, bioavailability, cytotoxicity and actual nutritional benefits.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides · Meat and Animal Product Quality · Insect Utilization and Effects
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, 91-95 Spl. Independentei, 50567 Bucharest, Romania
National Institute of Research & Development for Food Bioresources—IBA Bucharest, 5 Băneasa Ancuța, 020323 Bucharest, Romania
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296 Splaiul Independenței, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Funding
Ministry of Research and Innovation · Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization
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