Antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of Panax notoginseng: comparison of raw and steamed Panax notoginseng with Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium.
BACKGROUND
Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen (Araliacea) is traditionally used for its hemostatic and cardiovascular effects when raw and as a tonic when steamed.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to compare the effects of raw and steamed Panax notoginseng, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer and Panax quinquefolium Linn. on platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation.


METHODS
Effects on collagen-induced platelet aggregation were investigated using a platelet aggregometer, while the plasma coagulation times (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time) were determined using a blood coagulation analyzer. The data was corroborated with ex vivo platelet aggregation and in vivo rat bleeding time.


RESULTS
Raw and steamed Panax notoginseng significantly inhibit platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation. Steamed Panax notoginseng has significantly more potent antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects than the raw extract, and the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects increase with increasing steaming durations. Comparing the three common Panax species, Panax notoginseng has higher antiplatelet effect than Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium. The in vitro antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects are positively translated into a prolongation of in vivo rat bleeding time after oral administration of the raw and steamed extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the three common Panax species affect platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation differently, with steamed Panax notoginseng showing the greatest antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects. Panax notoginseng may be a good source of lead compounds for novel antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapeutics.
Lau
Aik-Jiang
AJ
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
Toh
Ding-Fung
DF
Chua
Tung-Kian
TK
Pang
Yun-Keng
YK
Woo
Soo-On
SO
Koh
Hwee-Ling
HL
D000818:Animals; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax; D053723:Panax notoginseng; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012015:Reference Standards; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors