Purification and identification of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from beef hydrolysates

Sarcoplasmic protein extracts from beef rump (biceps femoris) were hydrolyzed (for 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h) with three enzymes or their paired combinations. Ultrafiltration, gel-filtration, and RP-HPLC were used to separate angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from the hydrolysates. The highest ACE inhibitory activity of enzyme hydrolysates resulted from 4 h incubation with enzymes or their paired combinations. The activities of gel filtrated fractions from these hydrolysates were assayed in vitro, demonstrating that the 3rd peak of enzyme thermolysin + proteinase A hydrolysate had the highest ACE inhibition activity (52.8%). The 3rd peak of this hydrolysate was separated by RP-HPLC into five peaks, of which peak 3 showed 30.1% ACE inhibition activity. Its peptide sequence was determined to be Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Tyr-Lys. The results suggested that this peptide may be a potent ACE inhibitor which might perhaps be used to develop beef with a bioactive peptide to lower blood pressure.