Food-derived natural peptides regulate both ACE-1 (blood pressure) and ACE-2 (metabolism/viral defense) with advantages over synthetic drugs including safety, multi-target activity, and accessibility.
Dual ACE regulationPlant peptides can regulate both ACE-1 (lowering blood pressure) and ACE-2 (improving metabolism), addressing two disease mechanisms with one natural approach
What the researchers found
Plant-derived peptides can regulate both ACE-1 (antihypertensive) and ACE-2 (metabolic/antiviral), offering multi-target natural alternatives to synthetic drugs with favorable safety profiles.
Why it matters
Hypertension affects 1.3 billion people. Natural peptide alternatives could provide accessible, affordable treatment options with fewer side effects.
How the study worked
Comprehensive review of plant-derived ACE-1 and ACE-2 regulatory peptides, covering sources, mechanisms, structure-activity relationships, and nutraceutical development.
What this study cannot tell us
Most evidence is in vitro. Oral bioavailability of food peptides varies. In vivo blood pressure effects need clinical validation.
How to read the evidence
Comprehensive review of primarily in vitro evidence. Strong rationale needing clinical validation.
When this study was published
Published in 2025.
The bigger picture
Food proteins represent an enormous reservoir of bioactive peptides that could complement pharmaceutical approaches for cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Questions still open
- Which plant source produces the most potent ACE-inhibitory peptides?
- Can food-derived ACE peptides meaningfully reduce blood pressure in clinical settings?
- Would ACE-2-activating peptides help with viral defense (COVID-19)?
Common questions
Can plant foods lower blood pressure like drugs?
Do food peptides also help with viral defense?
Read the original research
Plant-derived angiotensin-converting enzyme regulatory peptides: Potential sources, mechanisms and applications.
Food chemistry, 501, 147603
Citation
Huang, Zhenyu; Shao, Qiong; Li, Pengze; Wang, Jian; Cai, Ming; Ma, Jiayue; Yang, Kai; Bu, Tingting; Yang, Huimin. (2026). Plant-derived angiotensin-converting enzyme regulatory peptides: Potential sources, mechanisms and applications.. Food chemistry, 501, 147603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147603