Extraction of Antimicrobial Peptides From Fava Bean Protein Hydrolyzate by Phosphorylated Biochar

The extraction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from plant proteins remains challenging due to their low abundance, structural diversity, and the need for mild, efficient, and selective enrichment methods. In this study, a phosphorylated biochar adsorbent (BCp‐KOH) derived from oil‐tea seed husk was developed and applied to the rapid enrichment of AMPs from fava bean protein hydrolyzate. The material exhibited a high surface area, abundant phosphate groups, and strong cation‐exchange capacity. BCp‐KOH selectively enriches cationic AMPs from papain and pepsin digests, yielding adsorption ratios of 30.00% and 29.80%, respectively. The enriched peptides demonstrated markedly enhanced antibacterial activity. LC‐MS/MS identification, network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking further confirmed the strong affinity of the enriched peptides toward bacterial dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and DNA gyrase. Overall, this biochar‐based extraction strategy not only provides an efficient approach for isolating plant‐derived AMPs but also opens a feasible pathway for developing natural antimicrobial agents as alternatives to chemical preservatives, controlling microbial contamination during food processing and storage, and improving food safety. Future studies should validate the antibacterial efficacy and stability of these peptides in real food matrices (e.g., meat products, dairy, or fruits and vegetables) to promote their practical application in food preservation.