Tartary Buckwheat Protein Yields 42 Blood Pressure-Lowering Peptides, Including 14 Never Identified Before

Albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin were extracted from Tartary buckwheat flour. Each fraction underwent sequential pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis to simulate gastrointestinal digestion. ACE inhibitory activity was measured for all hydrolysates. The most active fraction (albumin hydrolysate) was further purified using gel filtration chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. Individual peptides were identified by nano-LC-MS/MS (nanoscale liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). Novel peptides were validated through computational molecular docking analysis.

ACE inhibitor drugs (like lisinopril and enalapril) are among the most prescribed medications worldwide for hypertension. Finding natural food-derived ACE inhibitory peptides could lead to functional foods or supplements that support blood pressure management as part of a healthy diet. Tartary buckwheat is particularly attractive because it's already consumed as food in many Asian countries and is gaining popularity as a health food globally.

Food-derived ACE-inhibitory peptides are one of the most commercially successful categories of bioactive peptides. Lactotripeptides from milk (IPP and VPP) are already sold as functional food ingredients in Japan and Europe with regulatory approval for blood pressure claims. This study expands the plant-based ACE peptide repertoire, which is important for vegan/vegetarian markets and for diversifying peptide sources beyond dairy. The 14 novel peptides could represent unique intellectual property for nutraceutical development.

All testing was performed in vitro — ACE inhibition in a test tube does not guarantee blood pressure reduction in humans. The peptides need to survive absorption through the intestinal wall intact and reach the bloodstream at sufficient concentrations. Many food-derived ACE peptides lose activity after further metabolism. No animal or human blood pressure studies were conducted. The computational validation of novel peptides provides theoretical support but not experimental proof of activity. The specific sequences of the 14 novel peptides are not listed in the abstract.