AN EXTRACT OP FEVERFEW INHIBITS INTERACTION OP HUMAN PLATELETS WITH COLLAGEN SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) has been used since ancient times as a herbal remedy for migraine, fever and arthritis. Recently it has been shown that extracts of feverfew inhibit aggregatory and secretory responses in human platelets induced by various soluble agonists.The interaction of platelets with surfaces coated with human collagens of type III (C III) and IV (C IV) has been studied by measuring the deposition of 51-Cr-labelled platelets and by scanning electron microscopy. Experiments were performed using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and suspensions of gel-filtered platelets. Platelets were deposited on C III mostly as surface-bound aggregates. In contrast they were deposited on C IV mostly as spread forms of individual cells. Formation of aggregates on C III was more extensive for PRP than for GPP; in contrast platelet spreading on C IV was more extensive for GPP than for PRP.Feverfew extract inhibited the deposition of 51-Cr-labelled platelets on both C III and C IV in a dose dependent way. Similar concentrations of extract were needed to inhibit the formation of surface-bound aggregates and to inhibit platelet spreading in both PRP and GPP.The results indicate that feverfew may have antithrombotic potential in addition to its claimed benefit in certain clinicalconditions.