Angiotensin I‑Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Two Peptides Derived from In Vitro Digestion Products of Pork Sausage with Partial Substitution of NaCl by KCl

This study aimed to identify angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) from in vitro digestion products of pork sausage with partial substitution of NaCl by KCl (PSRK). Peptides from in vitro digestion products of PSRK were identified through liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis coupled with de novo sequencing. Subsequently, the ACE inhibitory peptides LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH were screened based on PeptideRanker, in silico absorption, molecular docking, and the determination of ACE inhibitory activity. In addition, the ACE inhibitory peptides LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH were mixed-type inhibitors; these peptides’ ACE inhibitory activities were expressed as the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values in vitro, which were 196.16 and 150.88 μM, respectively. After 2 h of incubation, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH could be transported through Caco-2 cell monolayers with paracellular passive diffusion. Furthermore, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH significantly increased the levels of ACE2 and nitric oxide while decreasing the levels of ACE, angiotensin II, and endothelin-1 in Ang I-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, indicating the ACE inhibitory effect of LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH. In summary, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH from PSRK can be used as functional foods with antihypertensive activity.