Collagen hydrolysates from jumbo squid muscle showed 82% ACE inhibition and 64% antioxidant activity, demonstrating that seafood waste can be a source of bioactive peptides with cardiovascular potential.
82% ACE inhibitionSquid collagen peptides produced with sierra fish enzymes blocked 82% of ACE activity in vitro, comparable to some pharmaceutical ACE inhibitors
What the researchers found
Sierra fish enzyme-derived squid collagen hydrolysates achieved 82.28% ACE inhibition and 64% ABTS antioxidant activity, with 15.2% of peptides below 3 kDa versus 7.9% from squid enzyme hydrolysates.
Why it matters
High blood pressure affects over a billion people globally. Bioactive peptides from sustainable seafood waste could provide natural ACE inhibitors as supplements or functional food ingredients, reducing reliance on synthetic drugs.
The numbers in context
Collagen yield 0.98 g/100g muscle; SFE 15.2% <3 kDa peptides; 82.28% ACE inhibition; 64% ABTS inhibition; SFE 40% higher specific activity
How the study worked
In vitro study. Collagen extracted from jumbo squid arms (yield 0.98 g/100g). Hydrolyzed with crude collagenase extracts from jumbo squid hepatopancreas and sierra fish viscera. ACE inhibition and ABTS radical scavenging measured.
Who was studied
In vitro enzymatic hydrolysis of squid muscle collagen
What this study cannot tell us
In vitro testing only — ACE inhibition in a test tube doesn't guarantee blood pressure effects in the body. Peptides may be degraded during digestion. Specific peptide sequences not identified. No human or animal testing.
How to read the evidence
Low evidence grade: in vitro biochemical assays only. No animal or human studies to confirm blood pressure or antioxidant effects in vivo.
When this study was published
Published 2021. Marine bioactive peptide research continues to expand with increasing focus on identifying specific peptide sequences and testing in vivo.
The bigger picture
Marine-derived bioactive peptides are a growing field connecting sustainability with health. Using seafood processing waste to produce cardiovascular health peptides addresses both environmental waste and consumer demand for natural blood pressure management.
Questions still open
- Would these collagen peptides survive digestion and maintain ACE-inhibitory activity in vivo?
- Which specific peptide sequences are responsible for the highest ACE inhibition?
- Could these peptides be developed into a standardized supplement for blood pressure management?
Common questions
Can collagen peptides lower blood pressure?
Is this the same as collagen supplements I can buy?
Read the original research
Utilisation of collagenolytic enzymes from sierra fish (Scomberomorus sierra) and jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) viscera to generate bioactive collagen hydrolysates from jumbo squid muscle.
Journal of food science and technology, 58(7), 2725-2733
Citation
Fimbres-Romero, Manuel de J; Cabrera-Chávez, Francisco; Ezquerra-Brauer, Josafat M; Márquez-Ríos, Enrique; Suárez-Jiménez, Guadalupe M; Del Toro-Sanchez, Carmen L; Ramírez-Torres, Giovanni Isaí; Torres-Arreola, Wilfrido. (2021). Utilisation of collagenolytic enzymes from sierra fish (Scomberomorus sierra) and jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) viscera to generate bioactive collagen hydrolysates from jumbo squid muscle.. Journal of food science and technology, 58(7), 2725-2733. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-020-04780-0