Antiplatelet Activity of <i>Allium ursinum</i> and <i>Allium sativum</i>

Abstract

Objectives: Garlic (Allium sativum) has a well-established reputation as a protective agent against cardiovascular disease, while nearly nothing is known about its cousin Allium ursinum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiaggregatory mechanism of garlic and to compare the effects of A. ursinum and A. sativum. Methods: In a prospective study, extracts were prepared from A. sativum powder made from fresh A. sativum bulbs and fresh A. ursinum leaves by maceration. The extracts were characterized by thin layer chromatography. Their in vitro effects on human platelet aggregation were examined by light transmission aggregometry after induction by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, A23187, epinephrine and arachidonic acid (ARA) in platelets from healthy volunteers. Results:A. ursinum and A. sativum exert similar antiaggregatory effects: they inhibit platelet aggregation induced via the ADP pathway and to a lesser extent aggregation induced by epinephrine, whereas ARA-, collagen- and A23187-induced aggregation was not affected. It became clear that the alcoholic extract of A. ursinum is the potent form, while the aqueous extract exerted an unspecific activity. The effects were strictly dose related. A. ursinum and A. sativum extracts exhibited similar potencies. Conclusion: Both A. ursinum and A. sativum exert antiaggregatory effects. Garlic extracts are acting by inhibition of the ADP pathway; their mechanisms of action are comparable to that of the clinically used drug clopidogrel. The pharmacologically active component of the extracts appears to be lipophilic rather than hydrophilic, but the precise chemical substance is still unknown. This is the first report on the antiplatelet activity of A. ursinum.

<i>Allium ursinum </i>L.: Bioassay-Guided Isolation and Identification of a Galactolipid and a Phytosterol Exerting Antiaggregatory Effects

“…TLC of steroidal saponins was carried out according to Rauwald and Janssen [8] , using desglucoruscoside as a reference, isolated in our laboratory from Ruscus aculeatus [8] . Saponins were detected as greenishbrown spots by spraying with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid, as shown in our previous paper [3] .…”

“…The volatile oil (consisting presumably of diallyloligosulfides as shown for the bulbs [9] ), despite being antiaggregatory, was not considered for further phytochemical analysis due to the small amount obtained. In contrast, the aqueous phase of the ethanolic extract was inactive, as described previously for the primary aqueous extract [3] . Because of the good efficacy of the chloroform phase and due to its relatively high yield, this phase was investigated in detail.…”

“…Based on the results previously described [3] , we first tested the phases from liquid-liquid partition of the ethanolic extract of A. ursinum for antiaggregatory activity. While 20 mol/l of ADP resulted in about 50% aggregation, this was significantly and nearly completely suppressed by the ethyl-acetate phase and even stronger by the chloroform phase as well as by the volatile oil obtained (see fig.…”

“…Recently we reported that lipophilic extracts from A. ursinum inhibit human platelet aggregation effectively via inhibition of the ADP receptor [3] . This extract inhibited platelet aggregation via the ADP pathway and to a lesser extent aggregation induced by epinephrine, arachidonic acid or A23187 [3] . However, the identification of their pharmacologically active compounds remained unresolved.…”

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of <i>Allium ursinum</i>

“…It was already found that A. ursinum exert antiaggregatory effects by inhibition of the ADP pathway (Hiyasat et al 2009;Sabha et al, 2012). This mechanism may be also involved in A. ursinum extracts anti-inflammatory effect, but it was not evaluated in the present study.…”