Discovered protein in coffee with similar effect to morphine

Researchers from Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and UNB (University of Brasilia) have identified novel peptides in coffee.
These protein fragments have an effect similar to morphine, i.e., analgesic and anxiolytic action, with a positive difference: the duration of these effects was significantly higher.
The identification of the peptides came when the researchers Vinecky Felipe and Carlos Bloch were looking for coffee genes associated with the improvement of product quality.
By analyzing gene sequences, the pair noted that some of the sequences contained internal fragments with similar structures to that of some human endogenous opioids such as enkephalin.
They decided to synthesize these molecules experimentally in the laboratory to evaluate its biological functions and physiological effects in mammals.
Meanwhile, a protein concentrate present in the coffee endosperm (most of the seed) was subjected to enzymatic digestion to simulate the digestive process in humans and thus could be inferred as the actual process of bioavailability and activity of these molecules in the final the organism.
From the synthetic analogues, tests were performed with mice at the University of Brasilia, which proved that the compound of coffee has a similar effect to morphine.
Better than that: in fact, the duration of the analgesic effect is significantly higher than that of morphine, reaching about four hours.
Although not observed serious side effects, the researchers intend to carry out other more stringent experiments to evaluate the safety of the compound.
Embrapa has already asked the INPI patent registration of the "opioid peptides" Coffee derivatives - seven compounds in total.
Source: Diário da Saúde