Antiproliferative effect of peptide fractions isolated from a quality protein maize, a white hybrid maize, and their derived peptides on hepatocarcinoma human HepG2 cells

Hydrolysates and peptides isolated from food proteins have shown antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. Cereals are one of the main sources of protein in the diet; among cereals, maize is the most extensively cultivated and consumed in the world. The aim was to compare the antiproliferative activity of ionic exchange peptide fractions isolated from albumin alcalase hydrolysates of white hybrid (Asgrow-773) and quality protein (CML-502) maize, and their derived peptides, using an in vitro model of human liver cancer. Fraction 10 from Asgrow-773 (IC₅₀ = 8.9 µg/mL) was more potent (p < 0.05) than the one from CML-502 (IC₅₀ = 15.7 µg/mL). The treatment with fraction 10 from both genotypes increased apoptosis induction rates an average of 4-fold in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that the antiproliferative effect on HepG2 cells of peptide fractions isolated from both genotypes, but not pure peptides, was based on induction of apoptosis due to decrease of antiapoptotic factors expression.