Chapter 6: Medicinal Properties of Millet Proteins

Recently, research has focused on developing more affordable, sustainable, and renewable protein sources to address the world’s increasing food demands, while also exploring their potential medicinal benefits. Among various protein sources, millets contain protein levels ranging from 7.52% to 12.10%, which is comparable to that of wheat and rice. Millet proteins typically include fractions such as glutelin, albumin, globulin, cross-linked prolamin, and β-prolamin, though the specific protein content varies by millet type. Research has demonstrated that millets contain various bioactive peptides associated with the reduction of lifestyle-related disorders. Additionally, the physicochemical and functional properties of millet proteins have been enhanced through various food processing methods, including heat treatments, pulsed electric fields, enzymatic hydrolysis, high-pressure homogenization, and ultrasonication. The enzymatic degradation of seed proteins generates bioactive millet peptides, which have been shown to exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. This chapter provides an overview of the characterization of major protein fractions in various millets (i.e., glutelin, albumin, globulin, cross-linked prolamin, and β-prolamin) and determines their concentrations. Moreover, millet protein-based bioactive peptides and their therapeutic potential, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties, are thoroughly discussed. Data have shown the presence of different fractions in various millet species, revealing their significant variability across different millet types. The bioactive peptides showed a range of beneficial activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anticancer, and antidiabetic effects. In conclusion, millet proteins have emerged as a promising functional ingredient for developing functional foods with a wide range of health benefits.