Authors : Vitalis Comfort Kasarachi; Egwim Chidi Evans

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3jx8su88

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mtk9ax4s

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jun1828

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Bioactive peptides derived from plant proteins have attracted increasing scientific interest because of their antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory properties. Among plant protein sources, Moringa oleifera, pea (Pisum sativum), and soybean (Glycine max) are recognized as important reservoirs of functional peptides generated through enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, or gastrointestinal digestion. This review critically compares antiinflammatory peptides derived from moringa, pea, and soybean with emphasis on protein composition, peptide production methods, structural characteristics, molecular mechanisms, and evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies. Soybean peptides remain the most extensively characterized, because of well-studied compounds such as lunasin,soymorphins, glycinin-derived peptides, and β-conglycinin hydrolysates. Pea peptides have demonstrated promising antioxidantmediated anti-inflammatory activity through modulation of oxidative stress and cytokine signaling pathways, whereas moringa-derived peptides remain comparatively underexplored despite increasing evidence of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. Current evidence suggests that these peptides regulate inflammatory responses through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and regulation of oxidative stress pathways such as Nrf2/Keap1. However, significant variation in extraction techniques, peptide purification, experimental models, and peptide characterization limits direct comparison across studies. This review highlights current advances, mechanistic insights, translational limitations, and future opportunities for the development of plant-derived anti-inflammatory peptide therapeutics and nutraceuticals.

Keywords : Bioactive Peptides, Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Moringa Peptides, Pea Peptides, Soybean Peptides, NF-Κb, Cytokines, Nutraceuticals.

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