RESUMO
This study investigated the formation of soy protein isolate hydrolysate-yeast cell extract (SPIH-YCE) conjugates through a humid-dry heating process and their impact on bioactivity. The incubation of SPIH-YCE samples at 60 °C and ~75% humidity for varying durations (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days) resulted in a significant decrease in reducing sugars and free amino acids, while the degree of glycation increased by approximately 65.72% after 10 days. SDS-PAGE analysis and size exclusion chromatography revealed the presence of peptides and glycoprotein molecules, with an increase in the distribution of larger peptide size chains. The conjugated SPIH-YCE (10 days) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity compared to the other samples at different incubation times. A comparative study between SPIH-YCE (day 0) and SPIH-YCE after 10 days of incubation showed significantly higher anti-inflammatory and ACE inhibitory activities for the conjugates subjected to the humid-dry heating process. This suggests that SPIH-YCE conjugates could serve as an alternative substance with the potential to provide health benefits by mitigating or preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This research highlights the importance of the Maillard reaction in enhancing bioactivity and offers insights into the alterations of the chemical structure of these conjugates.