Benazeprilat

**Semantic type:** Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** The active metabolite of benazepril, a carboxyl-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with antihypertensive activity. Once the prodrug benazepril is metabolized to benazeprilat in the liver, benazeprilat competitively binds to and inhibits ACE, thereby blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This prevents the potent vasoconstrictive actions of angiotensin II, resulting in vasodilation. Benazeprilat also decreases angiotensin II-induced aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex, which leads to an increase in sodium excretion and subsequently increases water outflow.

**Synonyms:** - BENAZEPRILAT