Microalgae-Derived Peptides Targeting Lifestyle-Related Diseases: Discovery, Mechanisms, Structure–Activity Relationships, and Structural Modifications

Abstract

Microalgae are an emerging source of bioactive peptides with promising therapeutic potential against lifestyle-related diseases such as oxidative stress-related conditions, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. While numerous studies have investigated the biological activities of microalgae-derived peptides, a comprehensive understanding of their structural features and structure–activity relationships remains limited. This review provides a detailed overview of current strategies used to discover bioactive peptides from microalgae, encompassing both conventional and computational approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on correlating identified peptide sequences with their reported biological activities to provide critical insights into the key structural motifs responsible for activity. Furthermore, recent advances in peptide modification techniques are discussed in the context of enhancing the bioactivity of microalgae-derived peptides. By integrating discovery strategies, structure–activity relationships, and emerging trends in peptide modification, this review highlights the potential of microalgae-derived peptides as next-generation therapeutic agents for managing lifestyle-related diseases and identifies opportunities for future research and clinical translation.