Transport of ACE Inhibitory Peptides Ile-Gln-Pro and Val-Glu-Pro Derived from Spirulina platensis Across Caco-2 Monolayers.

Bioactive peptides derived from food proteins have been considered as potentially ideal products to reduce hypertension because of their safety and positive impacts on health. IQP and VEP are the 2 ACE inhibitory peptides derived from Spirulina platensis, a kind of edible cyanobacteria with rich nutrition and multiple physiological functions, and were demonstrated to inhibit ACE and lower blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. However, it is prerequisite that such bioactive peptides must be absorbed intact across the intestinal epithelium, so as to exert antihypertensive effects in vivo. This study evaluated transepithelial transport mechanisms of IQP and VEP. It contributes to the study of Spirulina in lowering blood pressure and supports the development of bioactive peptide products.