Effect ofVaccinium ashei readeLeaves on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Activityin Vitroand on Systolic Blood Pressure of Spontaneously Hypertensive Ratsin Vivo

The hypotensive effects of Vaccinium ashei reade (blueberry) leaves were studied in vitro and in vivo. Blueberry leaf showed a strong inhibitory effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in vitro. Additionally, feeding of blueberry leaf suppressed the development of essential hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats in vivo. These results promise the use of blueberry leaf as a source of dietary hypotensive components.