- Contact mail: b.hernandez@csic.es
- Group leader: Blanca Hernández Ledesma
Group members
Research Staff
- Blanca Hernández Ledesma
Predoctoral students
- Giselle Franca Oliveira (FPU)
Fellowships and contracts
- Samuel Francisco Paterson Moreno
Research Summary
In recent years, the boost in the world population together with urbanization and industrialization, have caused a significant increase in the demand for dietary proteins and proteins-based products based. This fact, combined with climate change and environmental problems associated with intensive agricultural practices are generating a negative impact on global crop yields. It is anticipated that future protein demands cannot be met solely by animal and plant production. Therefore, alternative protein sources will be necessary to complement the traditional ones, thus meeting the foreseeable demand for the coming years.
The Group studies the role of new plant species, insects and algae as alternative sources of proteins and bioactive peptides. For this, the Group addresses the characterization of proteins and peptides, as well as the evaluation of their bioactivity, digestibility, bioavailability, and mechanisms of action, serving these studies as a basis for the development of functional ingredients aimed at promoting health and preventing oxidative stress, inflammation and/or metabolic disorders-associated chronic diseases.
Highlighted publications
- Franca-Oliveira, G., Fornari, T., Hernández-Ledesma, B. A review on the extraction and processing of natural sources-derived proteins through eco-innovative approaches. Processes (2021). In press.
- Fernández-Tomé, S., Indiano-Romacho, P., Mora-Gutiérrez, I., Pérez-Rodríguez, L., Ortega Moreno, L., Marin, A.C., Baldán-Martín, M., Moreno-Monteagudo, J.A., Santander, C., Chaparro, M., Hernández-Ledesma, B., Gisbert, J.P., Bernardo, D. Lunasin peptide is a modulator of the immune response in the human gastrointestinal tract. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research (2021) 2021, 2001034.
- Torres Sánchez, E.G., Hernández-Ledesma, B., Gutiérrez Cantero, L.F. Sacha Inchi oil press-cake: Physicochemical characteristics, food-related applications and biological activity. Food Reviews International (2021).
- Paucar-Menacho, L.M., Peñas, E., Hernández-Ledesma, B., Frias, J., Martínez-Villaluenga, C. A comparative study on the phenolic bioaccessibility, antioxidant and inhibitory effects on carbohydrate-digesting enzymes of maca and mashua powders. LWT-Food Science and Technology (2020) 131, 109798.
- Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Peñas, E., Hernández-Ledesma, B. Pseudocereal grains: Nutritional value, health benefits and current applications for the development of gluten-free foods. Food and Chemical Toxicology (2020) 137, 111178.
- Fernández-Tomé, S., Xu, F., Han, Y., Hernández-Ledesma, B., Xiao, H. Inhibitory effects of peptide lunasin in colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells and their tumorsphere-derived cancer stem-like cell subpopulation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020) 21, 537.
- Intiquilla, A., Jiménez-Aliaga, K., Guzmán, F., Álvarez, C.A., Zavaleta, A.I., Izaguirre, V., Hernández-Ledesma, B. Novel antioxidant peptides obtained by alcalase hydrolysis of Erythrina edulis (pajuro) protein. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2019) 99, 2420-2427.
- Coronado-Cáceres, L.J., Rabadán-Chávez, G., Quevedo-Corona, L., Hernández-Ledesma, B., Gomez-Gomez, M., Mojica, L., Lugo-Cervantes, E. Anti-obesity effect of cocoa proteins (Theobroma cacao) variety “Criollo” and the expression of genes related to the dysfunction of white adipose tissue in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. Journal of Functional Foods (2019) 62, 103519.
- Vilcacundo, R., Martínez-Villaluenga, C., Miralles, B., Hernández-Ledesma, B. Release of multifunctional peptides from kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) protein under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2019) 99, 1225-1232.
Recent Research Projects
- Propuesta de investigación, desarrollo, innovación y transferencia tecnológica para el procesamiento de la semilla de Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) en productos de valor agregado, como una estrategia para fortalecer y mejorar la productividad de sector agroindustrial de la Región de Cundinamarca y contribuir al desarrollo sostenible de sus comunidades
Referencia: 2020000100169. Fondo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colombia)
Duración: 2021-2024
IP: Dr. L.F. Gutiérrez
IP Grupo INNOVAPROT: B. Hernández Ledesma - Actividad biológica de productos de digestión y metabolismo microbiano a partir de alimentos e ingredientes vegetales para fomentar una alimentación saludable y sostenible
Referencia: ILINKB20023. CSIC
Duración: 2020-2021
IP: T. Requena - Nuevas estrategias para mejorar la producción, biodisponibilidad y multifuncionalidad del péptido de soja lunasina como modulador de inflamación intestinal y obesidad.
Referencia: PID2019-104218RB-I00/AEI/2015-66886R (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)
Duración: 2020-2021
IP: B. Hernández Ledesma - Formulación de nanocápsulas de péptidos multifuncionales de Erythtina edulis (Pajuro) con potencial terapéutico en la prevención del síndrome metabólico
Referencia: 042-2018 FONDECYT-BM-IADT-AV
Duración: 2019 – 2021
IP: K. Jiménez Aliaga
IP Grupo INNOVAPROT: B. Hernández Ledesma - Modificación de proteínas alimentarias. Digestión gastrointestinal y biodisponibilidad para el diseño de ingredientes relacionados con la saciedad y la actividad antioxidante
Referencia: AGL2015-66886-R (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)
Duración:2016-2020
IP: I. Recio y B. Hernández Ledesma