University of Manitoba - Human Ecology

Nutrition Month

Rotimi Aluko

aluko
Position: Professor

Office:
University of Manitoba
Department of Human Nutritional Sciences
W567 Duff Roblin Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Phone No.: (204) 474-9555

Fax No.: (204) 474-7593

E-mail: rotimi.aluko@ad.umanitoba.ca

Dr. Aluko’s research interests include bioactive peptides and functional properties of food proteins. There is a particular interest in the use of bioactive peptides from plant proteins such as peas, flaxseed and hempseed in the formulation of nutraceutical products and as antihypertensive agents. Currently, clinical trials are being performed in human subjects to determine the blood pressure lowering effect of one of the pea protein hydrolysate products.

Education:

1996 Ph.D. University of Guelph
1985 M.Sc. Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
1982 B.Sc. University of Lagos, Nigeria

Areas of Specialization:

Protein Chemistry
Food enzymology
Functional foods and nutraceuticals
QSAR of bioactive peptides

Research Interests:

Protein Chemistry: Structure-function properties of plant seed proteins; enzymatic modifications to improve protein functionality; characterization of protein-stabilized emulsions.

Functional foods and nutraceuticals: Isolation, characterization and biological activity of peptides derived from enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins.

Funding
1. Advanced Food and Materials Network (AFmnet)
2. NSERC
3. Manitoba Agri-Food Research & Development Initiative (ARDI)

Recent Articles in Refereed Publications

82. Mundi, S., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Physicochemical and functional properties of kidney bean albumin and globulin protein fractions. Food Res. Int. In press.
81. Agomuoh, A.A., Ata, A., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E., Irenus, I. 2012. Novel indole alkaloids from Nauclea latifolia and their anti-renin activity. Chem Biodivers. In press.
80. Gbadamosi, S.O., Abiose, S.H., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Amino acid profile, protein digestibility, thermal and functional properties of Conophor nut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) defatted
flour, protein concentrate and isolates. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol. 47, 731-739.
79. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Multifunctional cationic peptide fractions from flaxseed protein hydrolysates. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 67, 1-9.
78. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Food protein-derived bioactive peptides: production, processing and potential health benefits. J. Food Sci. 71, R11-R24.
77. Udenigwe, C.C, Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Quantitative structure–activity relationship modeling of renin-inhibiting dipeptides. Amino Acids. 42, 1379-1386.
76. Ndiaye, F., Vuong, T., Duarte, J., Aluko, R.E., Matar, C. 2012. Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate from yellow field pea seeds. Eur. J. Nutr. 51, 29-37.
75. Deng, Y., Aluko, R.E., Qing, J., Zhang, Y., Yuan, L. 2012. Inhibitory activities of baicalin against renin and angiotensin converting enzyme. Pharm. Biol. 50, 401-406.
74. Udenigwe, C.C., Adebiyi, A.P., Doyen, A., Li, H., Bazinet, L., Aluko, R.E. 2012. Low molecular weight flaxseed protein-derived arginine-containing peptides reduced blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats faster than amino acid form of arginine and native flaxseed protein. Food Chem. 132, 468-475.
73. Ajibola, C.F., Eleyinmi, A.F., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Kinetics of the inhibition of renin and angiotensin-I converting enzyme by polar and non-polar polyphenolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium leaves. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 66, 320-327.
72. Girgih, A.T., Udenigwe, C.C., Li, H., Adebiyi, A.P., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition and antihypertensive effects of hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) protein hydrolysates. J Am Oil Chem Assoc. 88, 1767-1774.
71. Ajibola, C.F., Fashakin, J.B., Fagbemi, T.N., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Effect of peptide size on antioxidant properties of African yam bean seed (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) protein hydrolysate fractions. . Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, 6685-6702.
70. Li, H., Prairie, N., Udenigwe, C.C., Adebiyi, A.P., Tappia, P., Aukema, H.M., Jones, P.J.H., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Blood pressure lowering effect of a pea protein hydrolysate in hypertensive rats and humans. J. Agric. Food Chem. 59, 9854-9860.
69. Aukema, H.M., Gauthier, J., Roy, M., Jia, Y., Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Distinctive effects of plant protein sources on renal disease progression and associated cardiac hypertrophy in experimental kidney disease. Mol Nutr Food Res. 55, 1044-1051.
68. Fasakin, C.F., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Antioxidant properties of chlorophyll-enriched and chlorophyll-depleted polyphenolic fractions from leaves of Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium. Food Res. Int. 44, 2435-2451.
67. Adebiyi, A.P., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Functional properties of protein fractions obtained from commercial yellow field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed protein isolate. Food Chem. 128, 902–908.
66. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Chemometric analysis of the amino acid requirements of antioxidant food protein hydrolysates. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 12, 3148-3161.
65. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Another side of flaxseed: proteins and peptides. AgroFOOD Industry Hi-Tech. 22, 50-53.
64. Pownall, T.L., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2011. Effects of cationic property on the in vitro antioxidant activities of pea protein hydrolysate fractions. Food Res. Int. 44, 1069-1074.
63. Girgih, A.T., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2011. In vitro antioxidant properties of hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) protein hydrolysate fractions. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 88, 381-389.
62. Gbadamosi, S.O., Aluko, R.E. 2010. Functional, thermal and structural properties of conophor (Tetracarpidium conophorum) albumin. Ife J. Technol. 19, 40-47.
61. Zhang, B., Aluko, R.E., Ye, X., & Yuan, L. 2010. Binding of sodium houttuyfonate analogues to bovine serum albumin revealed by fluoresence quenching study. Medicinal Chem. Res. 19, 1287-1295.
60. Upadhyaya, J., Prasad Pydi, S., Singh, N., Aluko, R.E., Chelikani, P. 2010. Bitter taste receptor T2R1 is activated by dipeptides and tripeptides. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 398, 331-335.
59. Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2010. Identification and inhibitory properties of multifunctional peptides from pea protein hydrolysate. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58, 11471-11476.
58. Pownall, T.L., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2010. Amino acid composition and antioxidant properties of pea seed (Pisum sativum L.) enzymatic protein hydrolysate fractions. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58, 4712-4718.
57. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. 2010. Antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory properties of a flaxseed protein-derived high Fischer ratio peptide mixture. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58, 4762-4768.
56. You, S-J., Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E., & Wu, J. 2010. Multifunctional peptides from egg white lysozyme. Food Res. Int. 43, 848-855.
55. Agboola, S.O., Mofolasayo, O.A., Watts, B.M., & Aluko, R.E. 2010. Some functional properties of yellow field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed flours and the in vitro bioactive properties of their polyphenols. Food Res. Int. 43, 582-588.
54. Tsopmo, A., Diehl-Jones, B.W., Aluko, R.E., Kitts, D., Elisia, I., & Friel, J.K. 2009. Tryptophan released from mother’s milk has antioxidant properties. Pediatric Res. 66, 614-618.
53. Aluko, R.E., Mofolasayo, O.A., & Watts, B.M. 2009. Emulsifying and foaming properties of pea seed flours. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 9793-9800.
52. Wu, J. Aluko, R.E. and Muir, A.D. 2009. Production of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from defatted canola meal. Bioresource Technol. 100, 5283-5287.
51. Udenigwe, C.C., Lu, Y-L., Han, C-H., Hou, W-C., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Flaxseed protein-derived peptide fractions: Antioxidant properties and inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophages. Food Chem. 116, 277-284.
50. Udenigwe, C.C., Lin, Y-S., Hou, W-C., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Kinetics of the inhibition of renin and angiotensin I-converting enzyme by flaxseed protein hydrolysate fractions. J. Funct. Foods 1, 199-207.
49. Agboola, S. and Aluko, R.E. 2009. Isolation and structural properties of the major protein fraction in Australian wattle seed (Acacia victoriae Bentham). Food Chem. 115, 1187-1193.
48. Udenigwe, C.C., Ramprasath, V.R., Aluko, R.E. and Jones, P.J.H. 2008. Potential of resveratrol in anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapy. Nutrition Rev. 66, 445-454.
47. Tsopmo, A., Diehl-Jones, B.W., Aluko, R., Kitts, D. and Friel, J.K. 2008. Tryptophan an antioxidant in human milk. Free Radical Biol. Med. 45, S91-S92. [Abstract]
46. Wu, J. Aluko, R.E. and Muir, A.D. 2008. Purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme-inhibitory peptides from the enzymatic hydrolysate of defatted canola meal. Food Chem. 111, 942-950.
45. Aluko, R.E. 2008. Methods for the determination of nutritional and bioactive properties of peptides present in enzymatic pea, chickpea and mung bean protein hydrolysates. J. Assoc. Official Anal. Chem. 91, 947-956. By editor’s invitation only for a special edition of the journal.
44. Farzamirad, V. and Aluko, R.E. 2008. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition and free radical scavenging properties of cationic peptides derived from soybean protein hydrolysates. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 59, 428-437.
43. Parris, N., Moreau, R.A., Johnston, D.B., Dickey, L.C. and Aluko R.E. 2008. Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from commercial wet-and dry-milled corn germ. J Agric Food Chem. 56, 2620-2623.
42. Aluko, R.E. 2008. Antihypertensive properties of plant-derived inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity: a review. Recent Prog. Med Plants, J.N. Govil and V.K. Singh (eds.), Vol. 22- Phytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values IV, pp. 541-561. By editor’s invitation only.
41. Friel, J.K., Tsopmo, A., Diehl-Jones, B.W., Aluko, R. and Kitts, D. 2007. Antioxidant properties of human milk peptides fractions. Free Radical Biol. Med. 43, S101. [Abstract]
40. Prairie N, Li H, Aluko R.E., Tappia PS. Novel bioactive peptides attenuate phenylephrine-induced activation of RAS in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 42: S132-S133, 2007. [Abstract]
39. Humiski, L. and Aluko, R.E. 2007. Physicochemical and bitterness properties of enzymatic pea protein hydrolysates. J. Food Sci. 72, S605-S611.
38. Yuan, L., Wu, J., and Aluko, R.E. 2007. Size of the aliphatic chain of sodium houttuyfonate analogs determines their affinity for renin and angiotensin I converting enzyme. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 41, 274-280.
37. Aluko, R.E. 2007. Technology for the production and utilization of food protein-derived antihypertensive peptides: a review. Recent Patents on Biotechnology 1, 260-267.
36. Wu, J. and Aluko, R.E. 2007. Quantitative structure-activity relationship study of bitter di- and tri-peptides including relationship with angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. J. Pept. Sci. 13, 63-69.
35. Li, H. and Aluko, R.E. 2006. Bovine colostrum as a bioactive product against human microbial infections and gastrointestinal disorders. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Res. 4, 227-238.
34. Yuan, L., Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. and Ye, X. 2006. Kinetics of renin inhibition by sodium houttuyfonate analogues. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 70, 2275-2280.
33. Omoni, A. and Aluko, R.E. 2006. Effect of cationic flaxseed protein hydrolysate fractions on the in vitro structure and activity of calmodulin-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 50, 958-966.
32. Li, H. and Aluko, R.E. 2006. Structural modulation of calmodulin and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II by pea protein hydrolysates. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 57, 178-189.
31. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. and Nakai S. 2006. Structural requirements of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides: quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling of peptides containing 4-10 amino acids. QSAR Comb. Sci. 25, 873-880.
30. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. and Corke, H. 2006. Partial least squares regression study of the effects of wheat flour composition, protein and starch quality characteristics on oil content of steamed-and-fried instant noodles. J. Cereal Sci. 44, 117-126.
29. Wu, J., Yuan, L. and Aluko, R.E. 2006. Restriction of the in vitro formation of angiotensin II by leucinyl-arginyl-tryptophan, a novel peptide with potent angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 70: 1277-1280.
28. Omoni, A. and Aluko, R.E. 2006. Mechanism of the inhibition of calmodulin-dependent neuronal nitric oxide synthase by flaxseed protein hydrolysates. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 83: 335-340.
27. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. and Nakai, S. 2006. Structural requirements of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides: quantitative structure-and-activity relationship study of di- and tri-peptides. J. Agric. Food Chem. 54, 732-738.

Book chapters and proceedings
7. Udenigwe, C.C., Aluko, R.E. Chemistry and Bioactivity of Food Phytoalexins. In: Bioactive Molecules in Plant Foods. F. O. Uruakpa (Ed). New York: Nova Science Publishers. In press.
6. Udenigwe CC, Aluko RE. 2012. Hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic food proteins and peptides, In: Bioactive Food Proteins and Peptides: Applications in Human Health, Eds. N. Hettiarachchy, K. Sato, M.R. Marshall. New York: CRC Press, pp. 189-216.
5. Wu, L., Chanput, W., Aluko, R.E., Wu, J., Horimoto, Y., Nakai, S. 2012. Computer-Aided Optimization of Peptide Sequences and Integrated Delivery of Selected Peptides to Targets: A Case Study on Blood Pressure of Oldest-Old Patients. In: Bioactive Food Proteins and Peptides: Applications in Human Health, Eds. N. Hettiarachchy, K. Sato, M.R. Marshall, A. Kannan. New York: CRC Press. pp. 313-333.
4. Aluko, R.E. 2011. Plant derived bioactives. In B. Grodzinski and R.Y. Yada (Eds.), Comprehensive Biotechnology, 2nd edition. New York: Elsevier Publishers. 2011, pp. 501-515.
3. Aluko, R.E. 2010. Food protein-derived peptides as calmodulin inhibitors. In "Functional Food Proteins and Peptides", E.C.Y Li-Chan, Y. Mine and B. Jiang (Eds.), IFT Symposium Series, Wiley-Blackwell: New York. pp. 55-65.

Patents
1. Wu, J., Muir, A., Aluko, R.E. ACE inhibitory peptides from plant materials. United States Patent No. 7,566,690. Granted July 28, 2009.
2. Wu J, Muir A, and Aluko, R.E. A process for preparing and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide containing hydrolysate. Indian Patent Number: 221818. Granted July 7, 2008. 
3. Wu, J., Muir, A., & Aluko, R.E. ACE inhibitory peptides from plant materials. European Patent 1,575,375. Filed 12/24/2003, published 09/21/2005.
4. Aluko, R.E., Wu, J., Aukema, H.M. Yellow field pea seed protein-derived peptides. PCT Patent WO 2011/050471 A1. Published May 05, 2011.