In vitro screening of traditional medicines for anti-hypertensive effect based on inhibition of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE).

Traditional medicines reported to be used as anti-hypertensives or diuretics from different regions in the world (China, India and South America) have been investigated. The bioassay is based on inhibition of ACE, as measured from the enzymatic cleavage of the chromophore-fluorophore-labelled substrate dansyltriglycine into dansylglycine and diglycine. In total, 31 species have been investigated and the crude extracts from seven species inhibit the enzyme by more than 50%.