Abstract
Bioactive peptides (BP) extracted from various natural sources possess properties like antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, opioid-like, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, and mineral-chelating effects, which have attracted considerable scientific interest. Due to their ability to prevent and treat various diseases, they can be incorporated into foods to compensate for nutritional deficiencies, thus increasing their importance in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and therapeutics. Although numerous studies have reported the bioactivities of peptides from various sources, a major gap remains in integrating their natural sources, production approaches, and molecular mechanisms of action into a coherent framework that supports translational application. This review highlights advances in fermentation, hydrolysis, and emerging in silico approaches, along with modern separation and purification strategies, through an up-to-date synthesis of bioactive peptides from animal, plant, microbial, and marine sources. Furthermore, mechanistic insights into key bioactivities and current challenges related to stability, bioavailability, and clinical relevance are discussed. The review mainly aims to project bioactive peptides as next-generation agents for functional food, nutraceuticals, and therapeutic applications through the integration of biochemical, technological, and functional perspectives.

Key words: Bioactivity, Bioactive Peptides, Therapeutic Agents, Natural Sources, Human Health, Functional Food