H.P.Vasantha Rupasinghe
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
Renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is a major biochemical pathway of regulating blood pressure in human body. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a key enzyme in the RAAS which produce angiotensinogen II, a known vasoconstriction factor. As the over expression of RAAS is associated with vascular hypertension and consequent health issues. ACE inhibition has become a major target control for hypertension. Recent research fi ndings prove that the bioactive compounds present in fruits are among the natural dietary components to inhibit ACE. In the current study, fruit fl avonoids were investigated on their inhibitory property using an in vitro system and human umbilical vein derived endothelial cells (HUVEC). Th e results demonstrated that among polyphenolics, fl avonoids have a potential to inhibit ACE in vitro. Th e ring B of fl avonoids is essential for the inhibitory function and the inhibition varies according to type of sugar moiety attached at C-3 position of fl avonoids. For all fl avonoids tested, IC50 values varied within the range of 70-200 μM. Interestingly, the lowest IC50 value is associated with the quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid, a major in vivo metabolites of quercetin and its glycosides. Most fl avonoids showed a concentration dependent ACE inhibition. Enzyme kinetic analysis proved that fl avonoids are competitive inhibitors of ACE. When the ACE inhibition was performed using HUVEC, quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid quercetin-3-O-glucoside exhibited the most eff ective ACE inhibition. Overall, results suggest that there is a high potential to use fruit fl avonoids as dietary supplements for ACE inhibition in prevention and treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.
Dr. Vasantha Rupasinghe is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Fruit Bioactives & BioProducts at NSAC, Canada. He also serves as an Adjunt Professor of the Departments of Pharmacology of Dalhousie University, Canada. He earned his M.Sc. from Iowa State University, USA and a PhD from University of Guelph, Canada. He has developed a unique research program for investigating the mode of action of antioxidant and biological properties of plant secondary metabolites of cool climate fruits. He is the author or co-author of 59 refereed journal publications and 94 abstracts of conference presentations.
