Structural Evidence for Antihypertensive Effect of an Antioxidant Peptide Purified from the Edible Marine Animal .

This study investigated the antihypertensive effects of an antioxidant peptide, Leu-Trp-His-Thr-His (LWHTH), purified from peptic hydrolysate, to assess the bioactivity of the peptide and verify the value of as a health-promoting food. Also, the study presented structural evidence for the effects of LWHTH. The inhibitory effect of LWHTH on angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) was assessed using enzyme reaction methods and the simulation methods in computational space. LWHTH inhibited ACE with an IC value of 16.42 ± 0.45 M. The LWHTH structure was stable, and its ACE inhibitory effect was retained under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. simulations revealed that LWHTH binds the active site of ACE, with residues LW making the ACE-LWHTH complex stable and residues HTH making the complex strong. Furthermore, LWHTH significantly reduced blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. These results demonstrate that LWHTH has the potential to be a healthy functional food with antihypertensive effects. Therefore, consumption may be beneficial for human health.