Bioactivity Potentials and General Applications of Fish Protein Hydrolysates

Fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs) are rich source of amino acids and peptides that are beneficial to human health. Industrially, when fish are processed, huge amount of wastes are generated. These wastes are often discarded into waterways, seas, oceans or even buried in the ground. However, these wastes can be processed into FPHs using enzymatic hydrolysis. Generally, FPHs possess numerous bioactivity potentials such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-tumor, ACE inhibiting activity, calcium binding properties, and anticoagulant properties. All of which were reviewed and presented in this article. In addition, their application in food, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries were explored. Nevertheless, despite the numerous bioactivities of FPHs, information on transportation and bioavailability of FPHs in gastro-intestinal system is limited. Thus, it was suggested that further work should be carried out in this aspect to validate their action, mechanism and therapeutic value in the gastro-intestinal system. This will enhance their potentials as a nutritive ingredient in the emerging nutraceutical and pharmaceutical commercial markets.