Identification and virtual screening of novel anti-inflammatory peptides from broccoli fermented by Lactobacillus strains.

Lactobacillus strains fermentation of broccoli as a good source of bioactive peptides has not been fully elucidated. In this work, the peptide composition of broccoli fermented by L. plantarum A3 and L. rhamnosus ATCC7469 was analyzed by peptidomics to study the protein digestion patterns after fermentation by different strains. Results showed that water-soluble proteins such as rubisco were abundant sources of peptides, which triggered the sustained release of peptides as the main target of hydrolysis. In addition, 17 novel anti-inflammatory peptides were identified by virtual screening. Among them, SIWYGPDRP had the strongest ability to inhibit the release of NO from inflammatory cells at a concentration of 25 μM with an inhibition rate of 52.32 ± 1.48%. RFR and KASFAFAGL had the strongest inhibitory effects on the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6, respectively. At a concentration of 25 μM, the corresponding inhibition rates were 74.61 ± 1.68% and 29.84 ± 0.63%, respectively. Molecular docking results showed that 17 peptides formed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). This study is conducive to the high-value utilization of broccoli and reduction of the antibiotic use.