Bioactive peptides and functional activity analysis in lactic acid bacteria-fermented donkey milk.

Donkey milk (DM) has historically been acclaimed as therapeutic food, gaining attention for its unique flavor and rich nutritional value. Fermented donkey milk (FDM) protein yields bioactive peptides with benefits beyond nutrition. The objective of this study was to prepare a flavored FDM and to analyze the peptides released from DM and FDM. Two strains, Lactobacillus plantarum 350-2 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus SH34-3, were chosen for fermentation due to their high protease production. Peptidomics analysis revealed there were 3856 peptides in DM and 3875 peptides in FDM. Bioactivity analysis indicated a higher proportion of anti-inflammatory peptides in FDM compared to DM. Peptides in FDM effectively decreased the amount of nitric oxide produced by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, suggesting that FDM peptides can help reduce inflammation. Our results lay a foundation for the research on the function of FDM and the development and utilization of peptides.