NCIt definition : A lipophilic, non-sulfhydryl angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with antihypertensive
activity. As a prodrug, delapril is converted to two active metabolites, delapril
diacid and 5-hydroxy delapril diacid, which competitively bind to and inhibit ACE,
thereby blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This prevents
the potent vasoconstrictive actions of angiotensin II and results in vasodilation.
Delapril also decreases angiotensin II-induced aldosterone secretion by the adrenal
cortex, which leads to an increase in sodium excretion and subsequently increases
water outflow.;