Inhibition of platelets with combination of natural agents

Platelets play a crucial role in the blood clotting and thrombi formation. Some nutrients such as vitamins E, B6, C, L-arginine and flavonoids inhibit platelet aggregation. However, each of these agents alone is a weak inhibitor in vitro. On the other hand, a correlation was found between the consumption of the vitamins or flavonoids and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Some of this beneficial effect was linked to the ability of the vitamins and flavonoids to inhibit platelet aggregation. However, in vitro, the same compounds may not be effective in physiological concentrations. This work shows that weak natural antiplatelet compounds as vitamins, quercetin, L-arginine together may act synergistically or potentiate the effects of one another and the effects of endogenous antiplatelet compounds such as prostacyclin and nitric oxide. Thus, the use of the combination of weak antiplatelet nutrients might give a better result to inhibit platelets. The work will be useful to researchers in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis and to everyone interested in platelets.

Autorentext

Vilja Mardla, PhD: Studied biotechnology at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia. Researcher at the same University. Main research interest is platelet biochemistry. Gennadi Kobzar, PhD: Senior Researcher at Tallinn University of Technology. Main field of research is platelet biochemistry and pharmacology.