Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions

Iron deficiency is a global health issue, making the development of novel iron supplements to enhance iron absorption critically important. In this study, low molecular weight donkey-hide gelatin peptides (LMW DHGP) were enzymatically hydrolyzed from donkey-hide gelatin. Experimental results demonst...

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Main Authors: Lili Yang, Chenyan Lv, Xingfeng Guo, Rong Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2117
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author Lili Yang
Chenyan Lv
Xingfeng Guo
Rong Liang
author_facet Lili Yang
Chenyan Lv
Xingfeng Guo
Rong Liang
author_sort Lili Yang
collection DOAJ
description Iron deficiency is a global health issue, making the development of novel iron supplements to enhance iron absorption critically important. In this study, low molecular weight donkey-hide gelatin peptides (LMW DHGP) were enzymatically hydrolyzed from donkey-hide gelatin. Experimental results demonstrated that the iron chelating capacity of LMW DHGP reached 249.98 μg/mg. Key amino acids (Asn, Gly, Cys, Lys) may participate in chelation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed rough, porous amorphous structures of LMW DHGP-iron complexes. The results of circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) indicated that the self-assembly of LMW DHGP-iron complexes appears to be primarily mediated by peptide α-helical structural conformations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further indicated that the interaction between LWM DHGP and Fe<sup>2+</sup> likely occurs through carboxyl and amino functional groups. In vitro digestion stability studies demonstrated that LMW DHGP-iron complexes exhibited superior iron ion solubility compared to FeSO<sub>4</sub> in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. PGPAG-iron complexes exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with scavenging rates of 71.64% (DPPH radical) and 88.79% (ABTS radical). These findings collectively suggest that LMW DHGP-iron complexes possess significant potential as a novel iron supplement in food applications, which provides valuable theoretical insights for the development of innovative iron supplementation strategies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-9e4691b146344ebda489f10bdca3fb232025-08-20T03:27:29ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011412211710.3390/foods14122117Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant FunctionsLili Yang0Chenyan Lv1Xingfeng Guo2Rong Liang3Shandong Key Laboratory of Applied Technology for Protein and Peptide Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Food Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, ChinaCollege of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, ChinaShandong Key Laboratory of Applied Technology for Protein and Peptide Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Food Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, ChinaShandong Key Laboratory of Applied Technology for Protein and Peptide Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Food Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, ChinaIron deficiency is a global health issue, making the development of novel iron supplements to enhance iron absorption critically important. In this study, low molecular weight donkey-hide gelatin peptides (LMW DHGP) were enzymatically hydrolyzed from donkey-hide gelatin. Experimental results demonstrated that the iron chelating capacity of LMW DHGP reached 249.98 μg/mg. Key amino acids (Asn, Gly, Cys, Lys) may participate in chelation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed rough, porous amorphous structures of LMW DHGP-iron complexes. The results of circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) indicated that the self-assembly of LMW DHGP-iron complexes appears to be primarily mediated by peptide α-helical structural conformations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy further indicated that the interaction between LWM DHGP and Fe<sup>2+</sup> likely occurs through carboxyl and amino functional groups. In vitro digestion stability studies demonstrated that LMW DHGP-iron complexes exhibited superior iron ion solubility compared to FeSO<sub>4</sub> in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. PGPAG-iron complexes exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with scavenging rates of 71.64% (DPPH radical) and 88.79% (ABTS radical). These findings collectively suggest that LMW DHGP-iron complexes possess significant potential as a novel iron supplement in food applications, which provides valuable theoretical insights for the development of innovative iron supplementation strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2117donkey-hide gelatin peptidespeptide-iron chelatesstructural characterizationspectroscopy analysisantioxidant activity
spellingShingle Lili Yang
Chenyan Lv
Xingfeng Guo
Rong Liang
Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
Foods
donkey-hide gelatin peptides
peptide-iron chelates
structural characterization
spectroscopy analysis
antioxidant activity
title Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
title_full Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
title_fullStr Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
title_full_unstemmed Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
title_short Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptide-Iron Complexes: Structural Characterization, Enhanced Iron Solubility Under Simulated Digestion, and Dual Iron Chelation-Antioxidant Functions
title_sort donkey hide gelatin peptide iron complexes structural characterization enhanced iron solubility under simulated digestion and dual iron chelation antioxidant functions
topic donkey-hide gelatin peptides
peptide-iron chelates
structural characterization
spectroscopy analysis
antioxidant activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/12/2117
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AT chenyanlv donkeyhidegelatinpeptideironcomplexesstructuralcharacterizationenhancedironsolubilityundersimulateddigestionanddualironchelationantioxidantfunctions
AT xingfengguo donkeyhidegelatinpeptideironcomplexesstructuralcharacterizationenhancedironsolubilityundersimulateddigestionanddualironchelationantioxidantfunctions
AT rongliang donkeyhidegelatinpeptideironcomplexesstructuralcharacterizationenhancedironsolubilityundersimulateddigestionanddualironchelationantioxidantfunctions