Abstract
We investigated the preventive effect of extract containing metabolic products of Bacillus subtilis natto (NFE extract) on essential hypertension. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR rat) and stroke-prone SHR rat (SHR-SP rat) were used in this study, and the NFE extract was administered by free drinking for 6-14 weeks of age (6, 7 weeks of age, 25 mL/day/rat; 8-14 weeks of age, 30 mL/day/rat). The administration of NFE extract did not affect the food intake and body weight in the WKY, SHR and SHR-SP rats. Significant changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure levels between WKY rats administered with and without NFE extract were not observed for rats 6-14 weeks of age. On the other hand, the SBP and DBP in SHR and SHR-SP rats increased with aging, and the administration of NFE extract significantly attenuated the increased SBP, DBP in SHR and SHR-SP rats. In conclusion, the administration of NFE extract prevents increased blood pressure in SHR and SHR-SP rats. These findings provide significant information that can be used to design further studies aimed at elucidating the precise mechanism for decrease of blood pressure by NFE extract.
