Effects of washing and membrane removal pretreatments on the antioxidant properties of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) protein hydrolysates produced by in vitro digestion

Summary The effects of washing and membrane removal pretreatments on the antioxidant properties of grass carp protein hydrolysates prepared through in vitro digestion were investigated. Furthermore, antioxidant hydrolysate was fractionated using ultrafiltration membranes (10, 5, 3 and 1 kDa). Oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC), DPPH and ABTS‐scavenging activity in a gastrointestinal digest produced from pretreated minced grass carp was increased 1.74‐fold, 1.08‐fold and 1.72‐fold, respectively, compared to untreated minced carp. Compared to the alkaline protease hydrolysate, ORAC, ferric reducing antioxidant power, ABTS‐ and DPPH‐scavenging activity in a gastrointestinal digest prepared from pretreated minced carp were reduced by 11.5%, 60.9%, 16.3% and 78.4%, respectively. The ultrafiltration fraction (<1 kDa) displayed the highest antioxidant activity. The size of molecular weight and the amount of hydrophobic and aromatic residues in hydrolysates played an important role in antioxidant activity. Low‐molecular‐weight fish hydrolysates could serve as a potential source of functional ingredients for promoting health.