Abstract

Crude extracts prepared from the heartwood of Taxus baccata L. were evaluated for their antiplatelet and vasorelaxing effect. The ethanol extract of the heartwood of T. baccata (1) and their fractions, CHCl3 (2) and CHCl3 non-soluble extract (3) were preincubated with platelets, and then thrombin, arachidonic acid (AA), collagen or platelet-activating factor (PAF) was added for testing antiplatelet activity. In other set of experiments, all extracts were tested on high potassium or norepinephrine (NE) depolarized isolated rat thoracic aorta for investigating the vasorelaxing effect. All tested extracts showed a significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by AA, collagen and PAF at a concentration of 400 µg/ml, but not thrombin. However, not all extracts relaxed NE-induced vasocontraction, extracts 1 and 2 showed a weak inhibitor effect on high potassium depolarized smooth muscle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on antiplatelet activity and vasorelaxing effect of the heartwood of T. baccata.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.