ABSTRACT
Milk is well known for its nutritional as well as pharmaceutical values. The origin of its therapeutic properties is mostly attributed to its protective antimicrobial proteins. Among these milk antimicrobial proteins, lactoferrin (Lf) has been accredited as a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) protein by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials of potential treatments of various infectious diseases. Both the intact molecule and its natural and artificial peptides derivatives have significant bioactivities. Lactoferricin (LFcin) is a small natural cationic peptide that originates from the N-terminal region of the Lf parent protein by enzymatic processing and has antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. The filamentous blue-green microalga Spirulina platensis has nutritional and medicinal properties. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated this microalga as a health food. Nowadays, Spirulina is considered a “miracle from the sea” or “superfood” by trustworthy scientific sources. Moreover, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated that S. platensis may be used to manage metabolism and the nervous system, such as application for diabetes treatment, weight loss, and high cholesterol reduction. It is considered a rich source of several valuable bioactive molecules, including bioactive peptides. Currently, consumers have an increasing desire for turning to naturally-derived therapeutics as a possible substitute for conventional antibiotics, especially after the development or outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant virulent pathogens, which endanger the health of humans as well as animals. Thus, dairy antimicrobial proteins such as Lf and bioactive peptides derived from this protein or antimicrobial peptides derived from Spirulina platensis can be considered for use as alternative therapies after medical approval and cost-effective manufacturing. This chapter provides an overview of milk LFcin and antimicrobial peptides derived from Spirulina platensis and their bioactivities with health benefits.
