Overview:

**COVID-19 RELATION**
Captopril is a potent, competitive inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the enzyme responsible for the conversion of angiotensin I (ATI) to angiotensin II (ATII). The compound is an effective treatment against high blood pressure and a few types of congestive heart failures. SARS-CoV-2 infects the human cells by using its Spike (S) protein to fuse with the human ACE2 cell receptor. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors such as Captopril are being investigated for their unconventional therapeutic role in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 fusions as a possible treatment option to solve the COVID-19 crisis.**

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 0.22 μM) (1). Also inhibits the bifunctional Zn²+-containing leukotriene A4 hydrolase/aminopeptidase (LTA₄ hydrolase) reversibly and competitively (Ki = 6.0 &muM for leukotriene B4 formation and Ki = 60 nM for L-lysine-p=nitroanilide) (2). Displays vasodilatory and antihypertensive effects in vivo. Clinically useful antihypertensive agent.

References:

1. DW Cushman et al. Nat. Med. 1999 5:11102.

2. L Orning et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1991 266:16507