Abstract:The molecular weight distribution, DPPH radical scavenging ability, ·OH scavenging ability, ABTS radical scavenging ability, ORAC value and ROS scavenging ability of corn oligopeptides (COPs) before and after simulated digestion by pepsin and trypsin in vitro were measured, in order to explore the effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the antioxidant activity of COPs. The results showed that the relative molecular weight of most peptides in COPs was less than 1000 u. After simulated gastric and intestinal digestion, the weight average molecular weight decreased by 1.47% and 0.05%, respectively, and the free radical scavenging capacity of ABTS increased to a certain extent, 25.47% and 1.39%, respectively. Before and after digestion in simulated gastric environment, the IC50 values of DPPH free radical scavenging capacity were about 1.41 and 1.50 mg/mL, and the IC50 values of ·OH scavenging capacity were about 10.3 and 12.3 mg/mL, respectively. Before and after digestion in simulated intestinal environment, the IC50 values of DPPH free radical scavenging capacity were about 1.39 and 1.48 mg/mL respectively, and the IC50 values of ·OH scavenging capacity were about 8.1 and 9.5 mg/mL, respectively. After simulated gastric digestion, ORAC value decreased by 10.4%, and ROS scavenging ability of 100 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL COPs increased by 1.42% and 16.78%, respectively. After simulated intestinal digestion, ORAC value increased by 1.4%, ROS scavenging activity of 100 μg/mL COPs decreased by 1.71%, and ROS scavenging activity of 400 μg/mL COPs increased by 2.61%.