Identification of an antihypertensive peptide from peptic digest of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida)

A peptide fraction having activity against angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) was separated from the peptic digest of protein prepared from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by ion-exchange chromatographies and gel-filtration. Fractions with high ACE inhibitory activity were combined and further chromatographed on a reverse-phase column to yield four tetrapeptides with ACE inhibitory properties. These tetrapeptides were identified by sequence analysis and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry as Ala-Ile-Tyr-Lys (IC50: 213 μM), Tyr-Lys-Tyr-Tyr (64.2 μM), Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly (90.5 μM), and Tyr-Asn-Lys-Leu (21 μM). Each tetrapeptide was synthesized and its antihypertensive activity was determined after oral administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The blood pressure significantly decreased after tetrapeptide ingestion. The present study demonstrated that dietary wakame may have beneficial effects on hypertension.