Screening for Angiotensin 1-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Ecklonia cava

Abstract

Seven brown algal species (Ecklonia cava, Ishige okamurae, Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum horneri, Sargassum coreanum, Sargassum thunbergii and Scytosiphon lomentaria) were hydrolyzed using five proteases (Protamex, Kojizyme, Neutrase, Flavourzyme and Alcalase) and screened for angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities. Most algal species examined showed good ACE inhibitory activities after the enzymatic hydrolysis. However, E. cava was the most potent ACE inhibitor of the seven species. Flavourzyme digest of E. cava exhibited an IC_(50) of around 0.3 ㎍/mL for ACE; captopril has an IC_(50) of ~0.05 ㎍/mL. The Flavourzyme digest was separated to three fractions by an ultrafiltration membrane (5, 10, 30 kDa MWCO) system according to the molecular weights. The active components were mainly concentrated in ＞30 kD fraction which are composed of the highest protein content (27%) and phenolic content (261 mg/100 mL) compared to the other two smaller molecular weight fractions. Therefore, the active compounds appear to be relatively high molecular weight complex molecules associated with protein (glycoprotein) and polyphenols. Therefore, E. cave is a potential source of antihypertensive compound.