Beta-amyrin from Ardisia elliptica Thunb. is more potent than aspirin in inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation.
Ardisia elliptica Thunberg (Myrsinaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for alleviating chest pains, treatment of fever, diarrhoea, liver poisoning and parturition complications. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of A. elliptica on collagen induced platelet aggregation and to isolate and purify potential antiplatelet components. Fresh A. elliptica leaves were extracted using methanol (70% v/v) by Soxhlet extraction and the extract was analysed for its inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Inhibition of platelet aggregation was assessed by incubating the extracts with rabbit blood and collagen in a whole blood aggregometer and measuring the impedance. The leaf extract was found to inhibit platelet aggregation with an IC50 value of 167 microg/ml. Using bioassay guided fractionation, beta-amyrin was isolated and purified. The IC50 value of beta-amyrin was found to be 4.5 microg/ml (10.5 microM) while that of aspirin was found to be 11 microg/ml (62.7 microM), indicating that beta-amyrin was six times as active as aspirin in inhibiting platelet aggregation. This paper is the first report that beta-amyrin isolated from A. elliptica is more potent than aspirin in inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In conclusion, A. elliptica leaves were found to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation and one of the bioactive components responsible for the observed effect was determined to be beta-amyrin.
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543.
Jianhong
J
Ching
Tung-Kian
TK
Chua
Lee-Cheng
LC
Chin
Aik-Jiang
AJ
Lau
Yun-Keng
YK
Pang
Johannes Murti
JM
Jaya
Chay-Hoon
CH
Tan
Hwee-Ling
HL
Koh
D000818:Animals; D031644:Ardisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D003094:Collagen; C036380:beta-amyrin; D001241:Aspirin