Identification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides derived from salmon muscle and their antihypertensive effect

The salmon peptide digested from salmon muscle showed a strong inhibitory activity against the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). The antihypertensive effect of the salmon peptide on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was examined. After the single intravenous administration of the salmon peptide at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly reduced against the control. Further, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study determined the efficacy of the salmon peptide in mild hypertensive subjects. The SBP, after a 1.0 g of salmon peptide intake, was significantly reduced at 4 weeks after the intake, and 2 weeks after the intake finished, compared to the value before ingestion. Bioassay-guided separation of the salmon peptide, using a combination of column chromatographic techniques, led to the identification of 20 active di- and tri-peptides, including Ile-Val-Phe and Phe-Ile-Ala as two new ACE inhibitory tripeptides. Ile-Trp had the strongest ACE inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 1.2 mu M) in vitro, and contributed 5.2% to the total ACE inhibitory activity. The salmon peptide and Ile-Trp showed a digestive resistance by in vitro assay, which mimicked the digestive organ, and had no affinity for factors related to blood pressure regulation, except for the ACE inhibitory activity.