Summary. Background: Dietary flavonoids are known for their antiplatelet activity resulting in cardiovascular protection, although the specific mechanisms by which this inhibition occurs has not been fully established. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of nine flavonoids representative of various chemical classes, with platelet responses dependent on thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 ) generation and on receptor antagonism, and to analyze the structural requirements for such effects. Methods: The effect of several types of flavonoids on platelet aggregation, serotonin release, and TxA 2 generation was investigated. Competitive radioligand binding assays were used to screen for affinity of these compounds to TxA 2 receptors. Results: Flavones (apigenin and luteolin) and isoflavones (genistein) abrogated arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet responses, such as aggregation and secretion, with a less substantial effect on TxA 2 synthesis. These compounds were identified as specific ligands of the TxA 2 receptor in the lmol L )1 range, this effect accounting for antiplatelet effects related to stimulation with those agonists. Tight binding of flavonoids to the human TxA 2 receptor relies on structural features such as the presence of the double bond in C2-C3, and a keto group in C4. Conclusions: The inhibition by specific flavonoids of in vitro platelet responses induced by collagen or arachidonic acid seems to be related, to a great extent, to their ability to compete for binding to the TxA 2 receptor. Therefore, antagonism of this TxA 2 receptor may represent an additional mechanism for the inhibitory effect of these compounds in platelet function.

Background and purpose:The modulation by flavonoids of platelet responses induced by thrombin has been little investigated, and the antiplatelet activity, as well as possible inhibitory mechanisms of these compounds on thrombin signalling, has not yet been elucidated. We explored whether flavonoids affect platelet signalling pathways triggered by thrombin and by the selective activation of its protease-activated receptors (PARs) 1 and 4, and analysed the antagonism of these polyphenols at thrombin receptors. Experimental approach: We investigated the effect of a range of polyphenolic compounds on platelet aggregation, 5-HT secretion, intracellular calcium mobilization, protein kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation, triggered by thrombin and PAR agonist peptides (PAR-APs). The ability of these flavonoids to bind to thrombin receptors was investigated by competitive radioligand binding assays using 125 I-thrombin. Key results: Quercetin, apigenin and genistein impaired platelet aggregation, as well as 5-HT release and calcium mobilization, induced by thrombin and PAR-APs. Quercetin and apigenin were inhibitors of protein kinases, but genistein exhibited a minimal ability to suppress platelet phosphorylation. Binding assays did not establish any kind of interaction between thrombin receptors and any of the flavonoids tested. Conclusions and implications: Quercetin, apigenin and genistein did not inhibit thrombin responses by interacting with thrombin receptors, but by interfering with intracellular signalling. While inhibition by genistein may be a consequence of affecting calcium mobilization, subsequent platelet secretion and aggregation, for quercetin and apigenin, inhibition of kinase activation may also be involved in the impairment of platelet responses.

With the goal of producing haemostatically effective platelet concentrates (PCs) with a longer shelf-life, we aimed to identify a simple combination of platelet inhibitors, with a low pharmacological load, which could avoid the unacceptable loss of platelets stored under refrigerated conditions. PCs stored with different combinations of second messenger effectors were analysed at days 5, 10 and 15 of storage and compared with those supplemented with ThromboSol--a combination of six platelet inhibitors that protects cells from cold damage. The following parameters were analysed: platelet counts, biochemical parameters (glucose, pH, bicarbonate, lactate), cell lysis (lactic dehydrogenase, LDH), membrane glycoproteins (GPs), platelet aggregation, fibrinogen binding and hypotonic shock response. We characterized the combination of amiloride and sodium nitroprusside (at 1/2 the dose included in ThromboSol). This was found to be similar to ThromboSol and superior to nontreated units in the prevention of cold-induced platelet aggregation at day 15 of storage (maintenance of 78% and 80% of initial platelet counts, respectively), preservation of GPIbalpha (11% and 12% better maintenance of mean fluorescence intensity compared with control units, respectively), and reduced cell lysis (13% and 11% decrease in supernatant LDH, respectively). The reduced pharmacological load with the identified solution compared with ThromboSol is an argument in favour of the potential use of these agents when designing strategies to improve PC storage.