Kinetics of renin inhibition by sodium houttuyfonate analogs.

A series of chemical analogs of sodium houttuynin, the major constituent in the volatile oil of the perennial plant Houttuynia cordata Thunb, were studied for in vitro inhibition of renin activity. At a reaction concentration of 0.196 mg/ml, each of the sodium houttuynin analogs (SHAs), viz., hexanoyl acetal sodium sulfite (SHA-C6), octanoyl acetal sodium sulfite (SHA-C8), decanoyl acetal sodium sulfite (SHA-C10), dodecanoyl acetal sodium sulfite (SHA-C12) and tetradecanoyl acetal sodium sulfite (SHA-C14), inhibited renin activity up to 34.37%, 44.03%, 79.33%, 83.04%, and 93.19% respectively. The IC50 values (the concentration of SHA that is required to reduce renin activity by 50%) of the most potent analogs were 273, 195, and 44 microM for SHA-C10, SHA-C12, and SHA-C14 respectively. Kinetic studies with SHA-14 indicated a linear mixed-type of enzyme inhibition with a Ki value of 45.35 microM. It was concluded that the SHAs constitute potentially useful ingredients for the formulation of antihypertensive products.