Algae Compounds Could Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Your next blood pressure solution might come from the ocean.

Researchers at Meijo University in Japan found that special amino acids in edible seaweed and cyanobacteria can inhibit the same enzyme that blood pressure medications target. The discovery opens doors for developing natural functional foods and cosmetics that support both heart and skin health.

The team focused on compounds called mycosporine-like amino acids, or MAAs. These natural molecules help algae and cyanobacteria survive intense sunlight by absorbing harmful UV rays. Scientists have long studied them as potential natural sunscreen ingredients.

But Professor Hakuto Kageyama and his team discovered something new. MAAs can block angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, which controls how blood vessels tighten and relax. Common hypertension medications work exactly the same way.

The researchers tested two specific MAAs in their laboratory study. Porphyra-334 comes from dried edible seaweed found in many countries. GlcHMS326 was isolated from cyanobacteria living in a hot spring in Thailand.

Each compound showed different strengths. Porphyra-334 excelled at preventing protein damage from glycation, a process where sugar molecules attach to proteins and make them stiff. This damage accelerates skin aging and contributes to chronic diseases.

GlcHMS326 showed stronger effects at inhibiting collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen. Both abilities suggest potential anti-aging benefits for skin.

The heart health findings surprised the research team. "We discovered that MAAs can inhibit ACE, suggesting a previously unrecognized potential for blood pressure-related health benefits," Kageyama explained.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery could transform how we approach two major health concerns at once. Hypertension affects billions of people worldwide, and the global search for safer, more natural alternatives to synthetic medications continues to grow.

Meanwhile, the cosmetics industry has been hunting for natural UV protection that works without potentially harmful chemical filters. MAAs could serve both purposes while adding anti-aging benefits.

The compounds' stability matters too. When researchers tested how MAAs reacted to heat and light, they held up well, suggesting they could work in real-world products.

Since these results came from controlled laboratory tests, the team calls for studies in living organisms next. They want to determine whether people can get enough MAAs through food or topical products to see actual health benefits.

The best part? These compounds already exist in foods many cultures eat regularly. Dried seaweed appears in cuisines across Asia and beyond, making this a potentially accessible solution rather than an expensive pharmaceutical development.

Nature keeps revealing that some of our oldest food sources hold answers to modern health challenges.