Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Acaciella angustissima (Timbe) is primarily used as firewood, as fodder (for goats and sheep), as a natural fuel, and as a natural tanner. Recent studies have focused on obtaining bioactive compounds, mainly phenolics, from bark and pods with potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic activities. However, there have been no studies on obtaining peptides from the seeds of these species. Therefore, the objective of this work was to obtain peptide extracts with antioxidant and elastase- and tyrosinase-inhibitory properties from Timbe seeds. Albumin extracted from Timbe seeds was hydrolyzed with alcalase to generate protein hydrolysates, which were then ultrafiltered to obtain peptide extracts with a molecular weight of less than 10 kDa. The peptide extracts showed higher reducing activity against the ABTS•+ radical and a greater inhibitory effect on elastase and tyrosinase. Although albumin exhibited higher iron-reducing power, the antioxidant properties and inhibition of elastase and tyrosinase observed in both Timbe albumin and peptide extracts were similar to those reported in albumin and peptide fractions derived from other plant sources (Amaranth, white sorghum, rice, cocoa, and chia). These results demonstrate that the enzymatic hydrolysis of Timbe seed albumin is a promising process for the generation of peptide extracts with beneficial properties for skin care.