Genetically modified rice with antihypertensive peptides may lower high BP

Peptides derived from food protein have the potential to become antihypertensive agents with relatively few negative side effects.In a new study researchers administered multiple antihypertensive peptides, extracted from the transgenic rice seed intragastrically into spontaneously hypertensive rats.

They found that transgenic rice containing several anti-hypertensive peptides lowered blood pressure in animal studies.

In future taking blood pressure medication could be as simple as eating a spoonful of rice with fewer side effects than current blood pressure medicines. The research has been published in the ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. A common class of synthetic drugs used to treat hypertension, called ACE inhibitors, target the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), which is involved in blood pressure regulation. However, ACE inhibitors often have unpleasant side effects, such as dry cough, headache, skin rashes and kidney impairment. In contrast, natural ACE inhibitors found in some foods, including milk, eggs, fish, meat and plants, might have fewer side effects. But purifying large amounts of these ACE-inhibitory peptides from foods is expensive and time-consuming. Le Qing Qu and colleagues wanted to genetically modify rice -- one of the world's most commonly eaten foods -- to produce a mixture of ACE-inhibitory peptides from other food sources.

The researchers introduced a gene to rice plants that consisted of nine ACE-inhibitory peptides and a blood-vessel-relaxing peptide linked together, and confirmed that the plants made high levels of the peptides. The researchers then extracted total protein (including the peptides) from the transgenic rice and administered them to rats. Two hours after treatment, hypertensive rats showed a reduction in blood pressure, while rats treated with wild-type rice proteins did not. Treatment of rats over a 5-week period with flour from the transgenic rice also reduced blood pressure, and this effect remained 1 week later. The treated rats had no obvious side effects in terms of growth, development or blood biochemistry. If these peptides have the same effects in humans, a 150-pound adult would need to eat only about half a tablespoon of the special rice daily to prevent and treat hypertension, the researchers say.

For further reference log on to:

Hypotensive Activity of Transgenic Rice Seed Accumulating Multiple Antihypertensive Peptides" by Dandan Qian, Bin Qiu, Nan Zhou, Fumio Takaiwa, Weidong Yong and Le Qing Qu, 24 June 2020, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.