Purification and characterization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from enzymatic hydrolysates of Styela clava flesh tissue

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated from the Styela clava flesh tissue. Nine proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, Alcalase, pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin and papain) were used, and their respective enzymatic hydrolysates and an aqueous extract were screened to evaluate their potential ACE inhibitory activity. Among all of the test samples, Protamex hydrolysate possessed the highest ACE inhibitory activity, and the Protamex hydrolysate of flesh tissue showed relatively higher ACE inhibitory activity compared with the Protamex hydrolysate of tunic tissue. We attempted to isolate ACE inhibitory peptide from the Protamex hydrolysate of S. clava flesh tissue using ultrafiltration, gel filtration on a Sephadex G-25 column and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an ODS column. The purified ACE inhibitory peptide exhibited an IC50 value of 37.1 μM and was identified as non-competitive inhibitor of ACE. Amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Ala-His-Ile-Ile-Ile, with a molecular weight 565.3 Da. The results of this study suggested that the peptides derived from enzymes-assisted extracts of S. clava would be useful new antihypertension compounds in functional food resource.

► This study was to purify an ACE inhibitory peptide derived from Styela clava.
► Protein derived the Styela clava was hydrolyzed using different proteases.
► An ACE inhibitory peptide was isolated from Styela clava using column chromatography.
► The peptide has a good dietary supplement for the prevention of hypertension.