Salinity and water deficiency are factors that limit the initial development of crops, directly interfering with the efficiency of food production. Studies on the behavior of cultivable species under stress are important to determine management actions; therefore, the mechanisms involved in post-stress recovery should be investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water and salt stress on enzymatic activity in azuki bean seedlings. The experimental design was a completely randomized, 4 × 6 factorial arrangement (four reagents: CaCl2, KCl, NaCl, and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) × six osmotic potentials: 0.0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.8, -1.2, and -1.6 MPa). The quantification of protein content and analysis of enzyme (catalase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) activity in seedlings were performed on the 10th day after sowing. NaCl is toxic and recovery of azuki bean seedlings was less likely under salt stress owing to reduced enzymatic activity. In contrast, seedlings subjected to KCl treatment showed increased production of antioxidant enzymes.