Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Opioid Peptides: An Overview of Functional Significance

  • Published:
International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bioactive peptides have been reported to exhibit opioid-like activity and are termed as opioid peptides. Either these are produced within the human body or they are derived from certain food sources (milk, cereals, vegetables, meat, poultry etc.), the former being endogenous opioid peptides and the latter are the exogenous opioid peptides. The opioid peptides perform a wide range of biological functions including neuromodulation, hormone-like function, analgesia, sedative effect, sleepiness, anti-hypertensive effect, ACE-inhibitory activity and many more. However, also possess adverse effects such as depressive effect, development of alcoholism, inflammation, apnea, autism and even death in rare cases. The effect of various processing methods and techniques on the opioid peptides requires further exploration. This is a unique and comprehensive review that will explore the opioid peptides, their types, sources, distribution and mechanism of action as well as the health effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams ML, Brase DA, Welch SP, Dewey WL (1986) The role of endogenous peptides in the action of opioid analgesics. Ann Emerg Med 15(9):1030–1035

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Albenzio M, Santillo A, Caroprese M, dellaMalva A, Marino R (2017) Bioactive peptides in animal food products. Foods 6(5):35

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bell SJ, Grochoski GT, Clarke AJ (2006) Health implications of milk containing β-casein with the A2 genetic variant. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 46(1):93–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat ZF, Kumar S, Bhat HF (2015) Bioactive peptides of animal origin: a review. J Food Sci Technol 52(9):5377–5392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat ZF, Kumar S, Bhat HF (2017) Antihypertensive peptides of animal origin: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 57(3):566–578

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco-Castilla J, Hernández-Álvarez AJ, Jiménez-Martínez C, Gutiérrez-López GF, Dávila-Ortiz G (2012) Use of proteomics and peptydomics methods in food bioactive peptide science and engineering. Food Eng Rev 4:224–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chakrabarti S, Wu J (2016) Bioactive peptides on endothelial function. Food Sci Hum Wellness 5(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang KJ (1984) Opioid peptides have actions on the immune system. Trends Neurosci 7(7):234–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cordain L (1999) Cereal grains: humanity’s double-edged sword. World Rev Nutr Diet 84:19–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cozzone AJ (2010) Proteins: fundamental chemical properties. In Encyclopedia of life sciences. Wiley, Hoboken

  • Daliri EBM, Lee BH, Oh DH (2017a) Current trends and perspectives of bioactive peptides. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1319795

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daliri EBM, Oh DH, Lee BH (2017b) Bioactive peptides. Foods 6(5):32

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott RB, Harris DP, Hill JP, Bibby NJ, Wasmuth HE (1999) Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and cow milk: casein variant consumption. Diabetologia 42(3):292–296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erdmann K, Cheung BW, Schröder H (2008) The possible roles of food-derived bioactive peptides in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. J Nutr Biochem 19(10):643–654

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Froehlich JC (1997) Opioid peptides. Alcohol Research Health 21(2):132

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gach K, Do-Rego JC, Fichna J, Storr M, Delbro D, Toth G, Janecka A (2010) Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel peripherally active morphiceptin analogs. Peptides 31(8):1617–1624

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gauthier SF, Pouliot Y, Saint-Sauveur D (2006) Immunomodulatory peptides obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of whey proteins. Int Dairy J 16(11):1315–1323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gobbetti M, Stepaniak L, De Angelis M, Corsetti A, Di Cagno R (2002) Latent bioactive peptides in milk proteins: proteolytic activation and significance in dairy processing. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 42(3):223–239

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holden JE, Jeong Y, Forrest JM (2005) The endogenous opioid system and clinical pain management. AACN Adv Crit Care 16(3):291–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzer P (2014) Pharmacology of opioids and their effects on gastrointestinal function. Am J Gastroenterol Suppl 2(1):9–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes J, Beaumont A, Fuentes JA, Malfroy B, Unsworth C (1980) Opioid peptides: aspects of their origin, release and metabolism. J Exp Biol 89(1):239–255

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ijäs H, Collin M, Finckenberg P, Pihlanto-Leppälä A, Korhonen H, Korpela R, Vapaatalo H, Nurminen ML (2004) Antihypertensive opioid-like milk peptide α-lactorphin: lack of effect on behavioural tests in mice. Int Dairy J 14(3):201–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jauhiainen T, Korpela R (2007) Milk peptides and blood pressure. J Nutr 137(3):825S–829S

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamiński S, Cieślińska A, Kostyra E (2007) Polymorphism of bovine beta-casein and its potential effect on human health. J Appl Genet 48(3):189–198

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kanjhan R (1995) Opioids and pain. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 22(6–7):397–403

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koneru A, Satyanarayana S, Rizwan S (2009) Endogenous opioids: their physiological role and receptors. Glob J Pharmacol 3(3):149–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Korhonen H, Pihlanto A (2006) Bioactive peptides: production and functionality. Int Dairy J 16(9):945–960

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lesniak A, Lipkowski AW (2011) Opioid peptides in peripheral pain control. Acta Neurobiol Exp 71(1):129–138

    Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan CNS (2001) β-Casein A1, ischaemic heart disease mortality, and other illnesses. Med Hypotheses 56(2):262–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mcnally GP, Akil H (2002) Opioid peptides and their receptors: overview and function in pain modulation. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, New York, pp 35–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Meisel H (1986) Chemical characterization and opioid activity of an exorphin isolated from in vivo digests of casein. FEBS Lett 196(2):223–227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty DP, Mohapatra S, Misra S, Sahu PS (2016) Milk derived bioactive peptides and their impact on human health—a review. Saudi J Biol Sci 23(5):577–583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE (1981) The endocrinology of the opiates and opioid peptides. Metabolism 30(2):195–209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morley JE (1983) Neuroendocrine effects of endogenous opioid peptides in human subjects: a review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 8(4):361–379

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen DD, Johnson SK, Busetti F, Solah VA (2015) Formation and degradation of beta-casomorphins in dairy processing. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 55(14):1955–1967

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Orona-Tamayo D, Valverde ME, López OP (2018) Bioactive peptides from selected Latin American food crops—a nutraceutical and molecular approach. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1434480

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paroli E (1988) Opioid peptides from food (the exorphins). World Rev Nutr Diet 55:58–97

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rajanbabu V, Chen JY (2011) Applications of antimicrobial peptides from fish and perspectives for the future. Peptides 32(2):415–420

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy KVR, Yedery RD, Aranha C (2004) Antimicrobial peptides: premises and promises. Int J Antimicrob Agents 24(6):536–547

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherfurd-Markwick KJ (2012) Food proteins as a source of bioactive peptides with diverse functions. Br J Nutr 108(2):149–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez A, Vázquez A (2017) Bioactive peptides: a review. Food Qual Saf 1(1):29–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmadi BH, Ismail A (2010) Antioxidative peptides from food proteins: a review. Peptides 31(10):1949–1956

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Séverin S, Wenshui X (2005) Milk biologically active components as nutraceuticals. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 45(7–8):645–656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S, Singh R, Rana S (2011) Bioactive peptides: a review. Int J Bioautomation 15(4):223–250

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sourabh A, Rai AK, Chauhan A, Jeyaram K, Taweechotipatr M, Panesar PS et al (2015) Health related issues and indigenous fermented products. In: Joshi VK (ed) Indigenous fermented foods of South Asia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 303–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Svedberg J, de Haas J, Leimenstoll G, Paul F, Teschemacher H (1985) Demonstration of β-casomorphin immunoreactive materials in in vitro digests of bovine milk and in small intestine contents after bovine milk ingestion in adult humans. Peptides 6(5):825–830

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tailford KA, Berry CL, Thomas AC, Campbell JH (2003) A casein variant in cow’s milk is atherogenic. Atherosclerosis 170(1):13–19

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi MS, Shah JS, Al-Mughairy S, Hodgson NW, Simms B, Trooskens GA, Van Criekinge W, Deth RC (2014) Food-derived opioid peptides inhibit cysteine uptake with redox and epigenetic consequences. J Nutr Biochem 25(10):1011–1018

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi MS, Hodgson NW, Walker SJ, Trooskens G, Nair V, Deth RC (2015) Epigenetic effects of casein-derived opioid peptides in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Nutr Metab 12:54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Van Bockstaele EJ, Liu-Chen LY (2008) In vivo trafficking of endogenous opioid receptors. Life Sci 83(21–22):693–699

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zioudrou C, Streaty RA, Klee WA (1979) Opioid peptides derived from food proteins. The exorphins. J Biol Chem 254(7):2446–2449

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Lovely Professional University for providing the necessary facilities, which were used for the preparation of manuscript.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India

    Jaspreet Kaur, Vikas Kumar, Kartik Sharma, Sawinder Kaur & Yogesh Gat

  2. Department of Dairy Chemistry, Mansinhbhai Institute of Dairy and Food Technology, Mehsana, Gujarat, 384002, India

    Ankit Goyal

  3. Department of Dairy Technology, Mansinhbhai Institute of Dairy and Food Technology, Mehsana, Gujarat, 384002, India

    Beenu Tanwar

Authors
  1. Jaspreet Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vikas Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kartik Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sawinder Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yogesh Gat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ankit Goyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Beenu Tanwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vikas Kumar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kaur, J., Kumar, V., Sharma, K. et al. Opioid Peptides: An Overview of Functional Significance. Int J Pept Res Ther 26, 33–41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-019-09813-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-019-09813-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation