Screening of Some Triterpenoids Isolated from Terminalia arjuna as Inhibitors of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Natural products have been shown to present interesting biological and pharmacological activities and are used as chemotherapeutic agents. Plants have historically been used in treating cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and are recognized for their ability to produce secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites obtained from different plants have been the starting material for designing different drugs. Many useful phytoconstituents have been isolated from Terminalia arjuna. Tannins and flavonoids are responsible for its anticancer properties and triterpenoids are mainly responsible for cardiovascular properties. In the present study we have analyzed the inhibitory potential of triterpenoids, on the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) - the enzyme responsible for various cardiovascular diseases. The study revealed that some of the triterpenoids have high ACE inhibiting potential and also significant IC 50 values as compared to other known ACE inhibitors.

Keywords: Secondary metabolites, phytoconstituents, triterpenoids, ACE, cardioprotective, IC50