Lactoferrin (LF) is a member of the transferrin family that is a cationic iron-binding protein. It is an 80-kDa glycoprotein that is found in many secretions in the body and is highly present in milk and colostrums. It exerts antibacterial effects and has a wide range of biological activities. Moreover, it is considered as a precursor of different peptides that have multifunctional bioactivities. During the last decade, several applications of LF and its peptides have been discovered, which has led to its commercial production. Therefore, LF and its peptides can offer a variety of specialized ingredients that can be tailored to meet the needs of natural food preservatives and functional food ingredients.
Part of the book: Milk Proteins