ACE inhibitory, hypotensive and antioxidant peptide fractions from Mucuna pruriens proteins

• Hydrolysates of Mucuna pruriens exhibit antihypertensive and antioxidant activities.
• Ultrafiltration generated peptide fractions with more bioactivity than hydrolysates.
• Hydrolysate and peptide fractions obtained with digestive enzymes showed higher bioactivity.
• The most bioactive peptide fraction showed a high content of hydrophobic amino acids.
• Hydrophobic amino acids are associated with the sequences of peptides with bioactivity.

Hydrolysates and peptide fractions obtained from Mucuna pruriens protein concentrate were studied for their angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, hypotensive and antioxidant activities. The hydrolysate obtained by pepsin–pancreatin (HPP) was the most active with an ACE IC50 value of 19.5 μg/mL, a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) value of 102.8 mM/mg and a ferric reducing power (FRP) IC50 of 67.2 μg/mL. At a dose of 5 mg/kg HPP decrease systolic (32.2%) and diastolic (37%) blood pressure in rats more pronounced than Captopril. The peptide fraction <1 kDa from HPP was the most active with an ACE inhibitory of 10.2 μg/mL (IC50), a TEAC value of 709.8 mM/mg and a FRP IC50 of 54.9 μg/mL. These results indicate that the hydrolysates and peptide fractions of M. pruriens would be used as nutraceuticals ingredients for preventing and providing therapy against hypertension and diseases related to oxidative damage.