S.A Ziaei - Assistant professor of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
M.R Heidari - Professor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, Neuroscience and Physiology Research Centers, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
GH.R Amin - Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
A Kochmeshki - Pharmacist, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Azad University, Tehran, Iran
M Heidari - Researcher, High School Student, Kerman, Iran

Background & Aim: Medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases such as hypertension. Since inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the involved mechanisms in control of hypertension, in this study the inhibitory effect of ۲۰ medicinal plants on ACE was investigated. Methods: The medicinal plants were collected, powdered, extracted, lyophilized and kept in -۲۰º C. ACE activity was assayed with hyporyl L histidine L leusine (HHL) as substrate in the micro scale. The extracts that inhibited ۵۰% of ACE activity in comparison to control were considered as probable ACE inhibitors. Results: From ۲۰ medicinal plants in this study, the highest ACE inhibitory effect (۱۰۰%) was related to Alcea digitata (Boiss.) Alef., Rubia tinctorum L. and Cerasus avium (L.) Monech. Citrus aurantium L., Berberis integerrima Bge, Peganum harmala L. and Allium sativum L. also inhibited ACE activity equal or more than ۷۰%. Conclusion: Since the highest ACE inhibitory effect was observed for Alcea digitata (Boiss.) Alef., Rubia tinctorum L. and Cerasus avium (L.) Monech, this plants can be used in further studies for separation of their active components against ACE activity.

medicinal plants, ACE inhibitors, Hypertension