Screening of 17 Guatemalan medicinal plants for platelet antiaggregant activity

Abstract

The platelet antiaggregant activity of 17 aqueous extracts of plants traditionally used in Guatemala for the treatment of ‘blood disorders’ and parasitic infections were assayed. The aggregation of washed human platelets induced by thrombin (0.075 U/mL) was inhibited by extracts of Tridax procumbens, Tagetes lucida, Annona reticulata, Neurolaena lobata, Bixa orellana, Rauvolfia tetraphylla, Petiveria alliacea and Tecoma stans. The other extracts did not have clear inhibitory effects, and indeed caused some platelet aggregation themselves, in the absence of thrombin. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Bioactivity guided isolation of antipsychotic constituents from the leaves of Rauwolfia tetraphylla L.

“…The plant extract mixed with castor oil is prescribed for refractory ailments and bark decoction is used for chronic refractory skin diseases and destroys parasites [4]. The root is used to stimulate uterine contractions and is recommended for use in difficult childbirth cases [5].…”

Preliminary pharmacological screening of Bixa orellana L. leaves

“…Previous pharmacological studies have revealed that Bixa orellana extracts possess antiprotozoal, anthelmintic and platelet antiaggregant activity (Villar et al, 1997;Barrio et al, 2004). Root extracts have been reported to have spasmolytic activity (Mans et al, 2004).…”

Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous and ethanolic Bixa orellana L. leaf extracts against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

“…orellana L. extracts have antiprotozoal, anthelmintic, platelet antiaggregant, [14,15] and anticlastogenic activity. [16] The root extracts have spasmolytic activity, whereas leaf and branch extracts were effective at neutralizing the effects of snake venoms.…”