Screening of some Yemeni medicinal plants for inhibitory activity against peptidases

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and aminopeptidase N (APN) are involved in the metabolism of several regulatory peptides of human nervous, cardiovascular, inflammatory and immune systems. A new class of dual metallopeptidase inhibitors of ACE and NEP (vasopeptidase inhibitors), are found more effective than monotherapy with either inhibitors of ACE or of NEP in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases [1, 2]. In addition NEP inhibitors such as thiorphan have found active as antidiarrheal agent [3, 4]. APN inhibitors as well as dual APN/NEP inhibitors are other targets of scienti…