Identification of bioactive peptides released from in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of yam proteins (Dioscorea cayennensis)

•In vitro gastrointestinal digestion was performed with yam (D. cayennensis) proteins.•Simulated digestion of yam proteins yielded approximately 1000 peptides.•In silico analysis revealed peptide sequences similar to known bioactive peptides.•Yam peptides exhibited antioxidant effect, ACE inhibition and DNA protection.•Low amounts of yam hydrolysates were capable of inhibit Escherichia coli growth.