ABSTRACT
In recent years, researchers have begun to study plant and animal derived bioactive peptides. These biopeptides are derived from precursor proteins that come from foods such as milk, eggs, meats, maize and vegetables. The study of bioactive peptides has been gaining attraction primarily because of its potential to be able to assist in the medical treatment of disorders, diseases and other ailments. This is because biopeptides have a variety of health benefits including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive and immunomodulatory properties. Notably, research has shown that peptides have the ability to assist with the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders including, but not limited to, cancer, obesity, body infections, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. The biggest challenge to implementing these peptides in medical practice comes from the lack of resources needed to advancely study peptide interactions on a molecular level. The current status of these bioactive peptides in clinical studies is still being developed, but there is promising evidence that biopeptides could serve as a means of therapeutic intervention in the future.
