Antithrombotic effects and underpinning mechanisms of food-derived bioactive peptides: A review.
Food-derived bioactive peptides (FDAPs) are making waves in the research community for their potential antithrombotic effects. A review by Liu and Zhu dives into the promising world of these peptides, highlighting their ability to combat thrombotic diseases without the side effects associated with traditional clinical drugs.
Food Res Int
by Liu T, Zhu C
“Antithrombotic effects and underpinning mechanisms of food-derived bioactive peptides: A review. Liu T(1), Zhu C(2). Author information: (1)Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Synthetic Biology, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Shaanxi Green Bio-Manufacturing Future Industry Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China. Electronic address: ltz20210401@163.com. (2)Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Synthetic Biology, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China; Shaanxi Green Bio-Manufacturing Future Industry Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China. Electronic address: zch2005@nwu.edu.cn. Thrombotic diseases are the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases. Existing clinical drugs are associated with side effects such as bleeding and gastrointestinal damage, making the development of safe alternatives a research hotspot. Food-derived antithrombotic peptides (FDAPs) have become promising candidates due to their strong antithrombotic activity, low immunogenicity, and excellent biocompatibility. This paper systematically reviews the latest research on FDAPs from 2016 to 2025, summarizes and discusses their sources, preparation, separation and purification, and structural identification approaches. Meanwhile, it systematically evaluates the activity evaluation methods, antithrombotic mechanisms, and the structure-activity relationship of FDAPs, clarifying that small molecular weight, RGD characteristic sequence, and cyclic conformation are the keys to their high activity. In addition, this paper discusses the current challenges in the development of FDAPs, including low preparation efficiency and poor bioavailability, and proposes development directions such as process optimization, multi-technology integration, and the establishment of a clinical safety evaluation system, laying a foundation for their in-depth research and industrial application. Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.”
Thrombotic diseases, a leading cause of cardiovascular issues, often come with risks like bleeding and gastrointestinal damage when treated with existing medications. This is where FDAPs shine. They offer strong antithrombotic activity, low immunogenicity, and excellent biocompatibility, making them attractive alternatives.
Key points from the review include:
Comprehensive analysis of FDAPs from 2016 to 2025.
Detailed examination of their sources, preparation methods, and structural identification techniques.
Evaluation of activity assessment methods and antithrombotic mechanisms.
Identification of crucial structural characteristics: low molecular weight, RGD sequence, and cyclic conformation enhance their activity.
Despite their promise, the review does not shy away from discussing challenges. Low preparation efficiency and poor bioavailability remain hurdles. The authors propose several strategies to overcome these issues:
Process optimization to improve efficiency.
Integration of multiple technologies for better outcomes.
Development of clinical safety evaluation systems to ensure reliability.
The work lays a solid foundation for further exploration and potential industrial applications of FDAPs. As research continues, these peptides could offer a safer, more effective approach to managing thrombotic diseases. The future looks bright for food-derived peptides in cardiovascular health.
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