Classification and Antihypertensive Activity of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Food Proteins

ABSTRACT: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides from the thermolysin digest of chicken muscle and the peptic digest of ovalbumin were isolated. However, some of them failed to show antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). To clarify this discrepancy, ACE-inhibitory peptides from various sources were preincubated with ACE before measurement of ACE-inhibitory activity and classified into 3 groups: (1) inhibitor type, IC₅₀ values of peptides that are not affected after preincubation with ACE; (2) substrate type, peptides that are hydrolyzed by ACE to give peptides with weaker activity; and (3) prodrug-type inhibitor, these peptides are converted to true inhibitors by ACE or gastrointestinal proteases. Peptides belonging to the 1st and the 3rd groups exert antihypertensive activities even after oral administration in SHR.