Caffeic acid (CA), one of the active constituents of Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, few studies have assessed the ability of CA to inhibit platelet mediated thrombus generation in vivo. In this study, we investigated the antithrombotic effect of CA in mouse cerebral arterioles and venules using intravital microscopy. The antiplatelet activity of CA in ADP stimulated mouse platelets in vitro was also examined in attempt to explore the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that CA (1.25-5 mg/kg) significantly inhibited thrombus formation in vivo. In vitro, CA (25-100 μM) inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation, P-selectin expression, ATP release, Ca 2+ mobilization, and integrin αIIbβ3 activation. Additionally, CA attenuated p38, ERK, and JNK activation, and enhanced cAMP levels. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the inhibition of CA on platelet-mediated thrombosis in vivo, which is, at least partly, mediated by interference in phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK leading to elevation of cAMP and down-regulation of P-selectin expression and αIIbβ3 activation. These results suggest that CA may have potential for the treatment of aberrant platelet activation-related diseases.In normal hemostasis, platelets prevent hemorrhage after injury and thereby preserve vascular integrity. But, aberrant platelet activation triggered by pathophysiological factors can lead to the development and progression of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, thrombosis and ischemic stroke [1][2][3][4] .At the injured vascular site, the exposed subendothelial collagen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) initiate platelet activation marked by the secretion of prothrombotic factors like adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin 5 . Platelet activation is further amplified by ADP and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from dense granules and adhesive molecules fibrinogen and P-selectin secreted by α -granules 6 . ADP activates G-protein-coupled receptor signaling mediated by two metabotropic purinergic receptors in platelets. The Gq-coupled P2Y1 receptor is responsible for intracellular calcium mobilization, shape change, and initiation of aggregation; the Gi-coupled P2Y12 receptor inhibits adenylyl cyclase and is responsible for the completion of the aggregation by ADP 7 . In addition, ADP-stimulated Gi-coupled P2Y12 receptor activates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) [extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, and c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinases (JNKs)] and PI-3k/Akt signaling leading to similar scenario of platelet activation and aggregation 8 .