Isolation of Human Renin Inhibitor from Soybean: Soyasaponin I Is the Novel Human Renin Inhibitor in Soybean

We found human renin inhibitory activity in soybean and isolated the active compound, soybean renin inhibitor (SRI). The physico-chemical data on the isolated SRI were identical with those of soyasaponin I. SRI showed significant inhibition against recombinant human renin, with an IC(50) value of 30 microg/ml. Kinetic studies with SRI indicated partial noncompetitive inhibition, with a K(i) value of 37.5 microM. On the other hand, SRI weakly inhibited pepsin, papain, and bromeline activities, but did not inhibit other proteinases, such as trypsin, kallikrein, angiotensin converting enzyme, and aminopeptidase M. Moreover, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the systolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats was observed when partially purified SRI was orally administrated at 40 mg/kg/d for 7 weeks. This is the first demonstration of a renin inhibitor from soybean, soyasaponin I.