title: Platelet inhibitory effects of juices from Pachyrhizus erosus L. root and Psidium guajava L. fruit: a randomized controlled trial in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to investigate cardiovascular benefits of juices obtained from two commonly consumed fruits in Thailand, Pachyrhizus erosus, L. (yam bean) and Psidium guajava, L. (guava), by examining their acute cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers. Possible involvements of the dietary nitrate on their effects were investigated as well.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into three groups of 10 subjects per group and each group was allocated to drink 500 ml of freshly prepared yam bean root juice, guava fruit juice, or water. Systemic nitrate and nitrite concentrations, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum K(+) concentrations, ex vivo platelet aggregation, and plasma cGMP concentrations were monitored at the baseline and at various time points after the intake of juices or water. Data were compared by repeated measures ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the ingestion of both yam bean root juice and guava fruit juice, collagen-induced but not ADP-induced platelet aggregation was attenuated. Ingestion of yam bean root juice increased systemic nitrate and nitrite concentrations whereby elevated nitrite concentrations correlated with the extent of inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, positive correlation between systemic nitrite and plasma cGMP concentrations and negative correlation between plasma cGMP concentrations and the extent of collagen-induced platelet aggregation were revealed. Nevertheless, yam bean root juice reduced only diastolic blood pressure while guava fruit juice reduced heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study has illustrated, for the first time, acute inhibitory effects of yam bean root juice and guava fruit juice on ex vivo collagen-induced platelet aggregation in healthy subjects. Dietary nitrate was shown to underlie the effect of yam bean root juice but not that of guava fruit juice. Following yam bean root juice ingestion, systemic nitrate apparently converts to nitrite and further to NO which may attenuate platelet responses to collagen stimulation. Cardiovascular benefits of juices from yam bean root and guava fruit are noteworthy in term of the cardiovascular health-promoting approach.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Randomized controlled trial TCTR20150228001 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thitiporn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thaptimthong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thitima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasemsuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nathawut
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sibmooh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. supeenun.unc@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Supeenun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unchern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D029905:Pachyrhizus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D031647:Psidium / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antiplatelet effect; Blood pressure lowering effect; Guava fruit juice; Plasma cGMP; Systemic nitrate; Systemic nitrite; Yam bean root juice