How Different Fruit Extracts Affect Blood Pressure and Inflammation Enzymes

Jim Crocker
25th August, 2024

How Different Fruit Extracts Affect Blood Pressure and Inflammation Enzymes

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers from Zhejiang Gongshang University found that fresh kiwifruit extracts can significantly lower blood pressure by inhibiting ACE activity by 47.71%
  • The study also discovered that nonpolar substances in ethanol extracts of grapes inhibit ACE activity, while enzymatic hydrolysates of red grapes promote KLK activity
  • These findings suggest that different components within the same fruit can have opposing effects on blood pressure, highlighting the complexity of natural foods in managing hypertension
Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, resulting in significant health issues and premature deaths globally. The search for natural substances to manage hypertension has been ongoing, and recent research from Zhejiang Gongshang University has shed light on the potential antihypertensive properties of common fruits[1]. The study aimed to identify fruits with high angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and kallikrein (KLK) promotion activity. ACE inhibitors are known to help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, while KLK promotion can increase blood flow and reduce hypertension. Researchers used three different extraction methods to analyze 22 types of fruits. The findings revealed that fresh kiwifruit's aqueous extracts significantly inhibited ACE activity by 47.71%, suggesting that kiwifruit contains small molecular substances like polyphenols that are effective in reducing blood pressure. However, it also slightly inhibited KLK activity by 4.56%, indicating a complex interaction of components within the fruit. Further analysis showed that nonpolar substances in ethanol extracts of grapes also significantly inhibited ACE activity. Interestingly, the enzymatic hydrolysates of red grapes promoted KLK activity, while their ethanol extracts inhibited it. This suggests that different components within the same fruit can have opposing effects on blood pressure, with water-soluble substances generally lowering it and alcohol-soluble substances potentially raising it. These findings align with earlier research on natural sources of ACE inhibitors and their potential health benefits. For instance, a study on the skirt of Chlamys farreri fermented with Bacillus natto identified novel ACE inhibitory peptides that significantly reduced blood pressure in animal models. These peptides were found to regulate the renal renin-angiotensin system, improve vascular remodeling, inhibit myocardial fibrosis, and rebalance gut microbial dysbiosis[2]. This highlights the potential of natural peptides in managing hypertension. Another study explored the use of spent hen muscle protein hydrolysate as a source of antihypertensive peptides. This research identified peptides with both ACE inhibitory and ACE2 upregulating activities, suggesting that spent hens could be used as functional food ingredients to manage hypertension[3]. The dual activity of these peptides supports the idea that natural substances can target multiple mechanisms involved in blood pressure regulation. The current study from Zhejiang Gongshang University adds to this body of knowledge by showing that common fruits like kiwifruit and grapes contain components that can influence blood pressure. The identification of water-soluble and alcohol-soluble substances with differing effects on ACE and KLK activities emphasizes the complexity of natural foods and their potential health benefits. In conclusion, the research highlights the importance of isolating specific components from fruits to harness their antihypertensive properties effectively. By understanding the distinct roles of these components, we can develop targeted dietary interventions to manage hypertension, potentially reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.

FruitsHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Effect of Various Fruit Extracts on Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) and Kallikrein (KLK) Activities.

Published 24th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-024-01223-5

Related Studies

2) Identification and Antihypertension Study of Novel Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from the Skirt of Chlamys farreri Fermented with Bacillus natto.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04232

3) Purification and identification of novel ACE inhibitory and ACE2 upregulating peptides from spent hen muscle proteins.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128867


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