Effects of armagnac extracts on human platelet function in vitro and on rat arteriovenous shunt thrombosis in vivo.
BACKGROUND
The "French paradox", a low cardiovascular mortality compared to the prevalent risk factors, has been attributed to the regular use of red wine, and to the polyphenols it contains. These have among other effects an antioxidant and antithrombotic effect. The French paradox is maximal in southwest France, a region which is the region of production of armagnac, an oak cask aged spirit also rich in polyphenols.


METHODS
We tested the effects of a freeze-dried extract of 12-year-old armagnac (EA88) on in vitro human platelet adhesion, and on aggregation induced by collagen or ADP, in the presence or absence of hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX/XO), at concentrations ranging from 5 x 10(-9) to 5 x 10(-3) g/l, after 15-60 min incubation. We also tested the effects of 2-week oral treatment with 1, 5 and 25 mg/kg EA88 in a rat arteriovenous shunt thrombosis model.


RESULTS
EA88 inhibited ADP-induced but not collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in vitro in a concentration- and incubation time-dependent manner, which was greater in the presence of HX/XO. In vivo, giving rats a daily oral dose of EA88 for 2 weeks inhibited thrombus formation in a dose-dependent manner, for doses consistent with the habitual human use of armagnac.


CONCLUSIONS
Armagnac extract EA88 had an antiplatelet and antithrombotic effect that if confirmed in man could contribute to explain the intensity of the French paradox in southwest France.
Umar
Anwar
A
Département de Pharmacologie, EA525, Université Victor Segalen, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
Guerin
Viviane
V
Renard
Martine
M
Boisseau
Michel
M
Garreau
Charles
C
Begaud
Bernard
B
Molimard
Mathieu
M
Moore
Nicholas
N
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000818:Animals; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D019271:Hypoxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology
D019271:Hypoxanthine; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D003094:Collagen; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase