Numerous attempts have been made to develop angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors from various sources of
food protein. Generally chicken leg bones are discarded after industrial chicken meat processing without any substantial
benefit. In previous studies, chicken leg bone proteins were hydrolyzed by various enzymes and the results demonstrated
that Alcalase hydrolysates have considerable ACE inhibiting activities. In this study, the best ACE inhibitory hydrolysate (A4)
(which was derived from chicken leg bone protein by Alcalase after 4 h incubation) was orally administrated (50 mg/kg bw)
in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to investigate its antihypertensive effects. After oral administration of A4, a
maximal reduction activity of about 26 mmHg was found at 4 h and maintained to 8 h. Moreover, SHRs treated with A4
(50 mg/kg bw/day) for eight weeks exhibited a reduction in systolic blood pressure, which is as significant as the effects
of Captopril (P < 0.05). These results suggested that chicken leg bones have a high potential for utilization to develop ACE
inhibitors as potential food ingredients intended to alleviate hypertension.
