It has been known since the late 18th century that micro-organisms readily grow in culture media containing partially digested proteins: this material was named "peptone".. Peptone is a chemically indefinite term describing products of the hydrolysis of proteins: a mixture of free amino-acids and peptides, still soluble after heating to 100°C, it provides a readily-available source of nitrogen for micro-organisms that generally do not attack native proteins.

The term "hydrolysate" was introduced later, and has the same meaning as peptone: products of the hydrolysis of proteins. To meet the differing needs of different micro-organisms, in terms of quantity and quality of amino-acids and peptides, a considerable variety of peptones and hydrolysates may be produced.

The starting material for peptone processing can be of animal origin (casein, lactalbumin, meat or gelatin) or of vegetable origin (the most common being soja flour). Production may also be differentiated by applying different types of hydrolysis: enzymatic (with enzymes such as pancreatin, papain or pepsin) or acid hydrolysis. Enzymes break the peptide link at different but specific sites, providing a variety of amino-acids and peptides, whereas acids attack the peptide bond at random, and provide free amino-acids.
Peptones and hydrolysates are the basic ingredients for the preparation of culture media, both for applications in the FERMENTATION processes and to prepare DIAGNOSTIC media. Enzymatic hydrolysates of food proteins also have applications in the PHARMACEUTICAL field, since they possess the same nutritional qualities as the amino-acids of the protein from which they originate.

Product Group	Product	Source
Costantino Series Dairy Derived	Casein Peptone CM 65	Casein
	Casein Peptone FM 5	Casein
	Casein Peptone FM 65	Casein
	Casein Peptone Sp. Grade	Casein
	Casein Peptone CM5	Casein
	Casein Peptone TT	Casein
	Casein Peptone CM 7	Casein
	Casein Hydrolysate Acid	Casein
	Casein peptone CM4K	Casein
	Casein Peptone CM 4	Casein
Costantino Series Meat based Peptones	Meat extract CM	Animal Tissue
	Meat Extract FM	Animal Tissue
	Meat Peptone BPC CM	Animal Tissue
	Meat peptone CM	Animal Tissue
	Casein Meat Peptone	Casein and animal Tissue
	Meat Peptone TO	Animal Tissue
Costantino Series Yeast Extracts	Yeast Autolysate	Baker's yeast
	Yeast Extract FM	Baker's yeast
	Yeast Extract CM	Baker's yeast
	Yeast Extract paste	Baker's yeast
Costantino Series Non-Animal Peptones	Soy Peptone CM	Soy
	Soy Peptone FM	Soy
	Malt Extract CM	Malt
Costantino Series Other Products Specialties	Bact. Peptone FM1	Animal tissues
	Bact. Peptone CM	Animal tissues
	Gelatin Peptone CM	Pork gelatin
	Proteose Peptone nr3	Animal tissues
	Proteose Peptone	Animal tissues
	Soy/Casein Peptone	Casein and soy
	Sib Brodo Base	Animal tissues
	Liver Peptone CM	Pork liver
	Tryptose	Animal tissues
	Brain Extract CM	Pork brain
	Heart Extract CM	Pork heart
	Placenta Extract	Pork placenta
	Elastin Hydrolisate	Animal tissues
	Brain/Heart Extract CM	Pork brain and heart