Marine Natural Antihypertensive Peptides from Styela clava Having Multifunctions of ACE Inhibition and NO Production in Endothelial Cells � � � � � � � � � � �

Bioactive peptides can be obtained from a variety of marine bioresource proteins (Byun and Kim, 2001). Improved nutritional and potent bioactive peptides have been shown to be generated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins (Ondetti, 1997). Bioactive peptides may function as potential physiological modulators in the process of metabolism during the intestinal digestion of the diet (Kato and Suzuki, 1975). Bioactive peptides are liberated depending on their structure, composition, and amino acid sequence (Lee et al., 2009). Some of these bioactive peptides have been identified to possess nutraceutical

Contents 8.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................87 8.2 Hypertensive Mechanisms .......................................................................89