Bioactive Components in Milk and Dairy Products - Prof. Dr. Aulanni ...

32 Section I: Bioactive Components in Milk
with specifi c ribonucleotide salts. Also nucleotides
could have signifi cance as exogenous anticarcinogens
in the control of intestinal tumor development
(Michaelidou and Steijns 2006 ).
Bovine colostrum contains relatively high concentrations
of cytokines, such as IL - 1 (interleukin),
IL - 6, TNF - α (tumor necrosis factor), IF - γ (interferon),
and IL - 1 receptor antagonist, but their levels
decline markedly in mature milk (Kelly 2003 ). The
biological role of these components and their potential
applications have been reviewed recently (Struff
and Sprotte 2007 : Wheeler et al. 2007 ).
Among the minor whey proteins many biologically
active specifi c molecules and complexes, such
as proteose - peptones, serum albumin, osteopontin,
and the enzymes lysozyme and xanthine oxidase,
have been characterized (Mather 2000 ; Fox and
Kelly 2006 ). Another interesting protein complex
isolated from whey is milk basic protein (MBP),
which consists of several low - molecular compounds,
such as kininogen, cystatin, and HMG - like protein.
In cell culture and animal - model studies BMP has
been shown to stimulate bone formation and simultaneously
suppress bone resorption (Kawakami
2005 ). The bone - strenghtening effects of BMP have
been confi rmed in human trials and the product has
been evaluated for safety and commercialized in
Japan.
The milk fat globule membrane contains several
lipid and protein fractions, e.g., butyrophilin, CD36,
mucin, and fatty acid binding protein that have
shown specifi c biological functions. These components
have been reviewed recently by Spitsberg
(2005) and Fong et al. (2007) .
Colostrinin TM (CLN) is a proline - rich polypeptide
complex that was originally isolated from ovine
colostrum. Colostrinin has been identifi ed and isolated
also from bovine colostrum in the form of a
peptide complex with a molecular mass around
14,000 Daltons (Sokolowska et al. 2008 ). In in vitro
and animal studies, ovine colostrinin has been shown
to exert immunomodulatory properties. A recent
clinical study (Billikiewicz and Gaus 2004 ) suggests
that colostrinin is benefi cial in the treatment of mild
or moderate Alzheimer ’ s disease. The mechanism of
action remains, however, to be elucidated and the
effi cacy confi rmed in further clinical studies.
Human milk contains signifi cant concentrations
(5 – 10 g/L) of complex oligosaccharides, which are
considered to exert different health benefi ts to the
newborn (Kunz et al. 2000 ; Kunz and Rudloff 2006 ).
They may contribute to the growth of benefi cial fl ora
in the intestine, stimulation of the immune system
and defense against microbial infections. Similar
oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates occur in
bovine milk and colostrum but in much smaller concentrations
(Gopal and Gill 2000 ; Martin et al.
2001 ). The low concentration and complex nature of
these compounds has hindered their characterization
and utilization in health care and food products.
Recent advances in analytical techniques have,
however, enabled a more detailed structural and
functional analysis of bovine milk – derived oligosaccharides.
Membrane separation - based processes
have been developed for the recovery of sialyloligosaccharides
from cheese whey. Such ingredients
could have potential, for example, as a prebiotic
component in functional foods and infant formulae
(Mehra and Kelly 2006 ).
CONCLUSIONS
The current global interest in developing health -
promoting functional foods provides a timely opportunity
to tap the myriad of innate bioactive milk
components for inclusion in such formulations.
Industrial or semi - industrial scale processing techniques
are available for fractionation and isolation
of major proteins from colostrum and milk, and a
few whey - derived native proteins, peptides, growth
factors, and lipid fractions are already manufactured
commercially. They present an excellent source of
well - studied natural ingredients for different applications
in functional foods. It can be envisaged that
in the near future several breakthrough products
based on these ingredients will be launched on
worldwide markets. They could be targeted to
infants, the elderly, and immune - compromised
people as well as to improve performance and
prevent diet - related chronic diseases. Moreover,
there is a need to study and exploit the health potential
of other minor components occurring naturally
in colostrum and milk. In future studies more emphasis
should be given also to the health - promoting
potential hidden in the vast range of traditional dairy
products consumed worldwide and produced from
other mammals besides cows, such as goats, sheep,
camels, mares, yaks, etc.