Antihypertensive drugs. Compounds that inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II stimulates water and sodium resorption and vasoconstriction. Through inhibition of this enzyme, both sodium and water are lost to a greater extent than without inhibition of the converting enzyme and blood pressure is reduced.
An Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor belongs to the class of antihypertensive medications, which functions to subdue the renin pathway to mitigate blood pressure.