title: Nattokinase improves blood flow by inhibiting platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.
abstract: The effects of nattokinase on the in vitro platelet aggregation and in vivo thrombosis were investigated in comparison with aspirin. Rabbit platelet-rich plasma was incubated with nattokinase and aggregation inducers collagen and thrombin, and the platelet aggregation rate was analyzed. Nattokinase significantly inhibited both the collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations. Nattokinase also reduced thromboxane B2 formation from collagen-activated platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. Rats were orally administered with nattokinase for 1 week, and their carotid arteries were exposed. Arterial thrombosis was induced by applying 35% FeCl3-soaked filter paper for 10 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Nattokinase delayed the FeCl3-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at 160 mg/kg. In addition, a high dose (500 mg/kg) of nattokinase fully prevented the occlusion, as achieved with aspirin (30 mg/kg). The results indicate that nattokinase extracted from fermented soybean inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane formation, and thereby delay thrombosis following oxidative arterial wall injury. Therefore, it is suggested that nattokinase could be a good candidate without adverse effects for the improvement of blood flow.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ja-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Misuba RTech Co., Ltd., Asan, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Su
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jingmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Youngeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Sei
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Daejeon Health Sciences College, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Kyeong
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Misuba RTech Co., Ltd., Asan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ehn-Kyoung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Man Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Platelet aggregation; nattokinase; thrombosis; thromboxane B2