Reduction of blood pressure by soybean saponins, renin inhibitors from soybean, in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of commercial purified soybean saponin on renin activity and blood pressure was investigated. Soybean saponin significantly inhibited human renin in vitro with IC50=59.9 μg/ml. Orally administered soybean saponin at 80 mg/kg of body weight per day to spontaneously hypertensive rats for 8 weeks significantly decreased the blood pressure.