In Vitro Antiatherothrombotic Effects of Extracts from Berberis Vulgaris L., Teucrium Polium L., and Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth

Abstract

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The pathogenesis is mainly due to atherosclerosis, plaque rupture, and platelet thrombus formation. The main risk factors for coronary artery disease include obesity, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure. As a part of disease management, treatment options using anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs can be applied with addition to lipid-lowering medication. However, medicinal plants comprising antiatherothrombotic effects can be used as options to combat the disease rather than drug therapies with lesser adverse effects. Therefore, the haematological effect of Berberis vulgaris L., Teucrium polium L., and Orthosiphon stamineus Benth extracts was studied using in vitro model to prevent and to treat coronary atherothrombotic disease. The aqueous, methanol, and polysaccharide extracts of B. vulgaris, T. polium, and O. stamineus, respectively, were studied for their anticoagulant and antiplatelet effect on human whole blood. Extracts were subjected to the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test for anticoagulant activity. The antiplatelet activity was investigated using an electrical impedance method. B. vulgaris aqueous extract (BVAE), B. vulgaris polysaccharide extract (BVPE), T. polium aqueous extract (TPAE), and T. polium polysaccharide extract (TPPE) significantly prolonged the coagulation time in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). The administration of BVAE demonstrated the most effective antiplatelet activity against platelet aggregation caused by arachidonic acid (AA) and collagen. These antiplatelet activities may correspond to the presence of higher total phenolic compound, which thus inhibit the platelet aggregation activity. In conclusion, these findings provide strong evidence on the antiatherothrombotic effect of BVAE and TPAE.

Figure 1

Effects of BVPE, TPPE, and OSPE on prothrombin time (seconds) of human plasma. TPPE and BVPE showed prolonged PT in concentration-dependent manner, compared to heparin and normal group. Bars with asterisk showed significant difference compared to normal group at p<0.05. BVPE: polysaccharide extract of B. vulgaris, TPPE: polysaccharide extract of T. polium, OSPE: polysaccharide extract of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth.

Figure 2

Effects of BVME, TPME, and OSME on prothrombin time (seconds) of human plasma. No significant difference was observed compared to the normal group. BVME: methanol extract of B. vulgaris, TPME: methanol extract of T. polium, OSME: methanol extract of Orthosiphon stamineus.

Figure 3

Effects of BVAE, TPAE, and OSAE on prothrombin time (seconds) of human plasma. TPAE and BVAE showed prolonged PT in concentration-dependent manner, compared to normal and heparin group. Bars with asterisk showed significant difference compared to normal at p<0.05. BVAE: aqueous extract of B. vulgaris, TPAE: aqueous extract of T. polium, OSAE: aqueous extract of O. stamineus.

Figure 4

Effects of BVPE, TPPE, and OSPE on activated partial thromboplastin time in seconds of human plasma. TPPE and BVPE showed prolonged APTT in concentration-dependent manner, compared to normal group. Heparin (positive control) showed the highest APTT value. Bars with asterisk showed significant difference compared to normal group at p<0.05. BVPE: polysaccharide extract of B. vulgaris, TPPE: polysaccharide extract of T. polium, OSPE: polysaccharide extract of Orthosiphon stamineus.

Figure 5

Effects of BVME, TPME, and OSME on activated partial thromboplastin time (seconds) of human plasma. No significant difference compared to the normal group. Bars with asterisk showed significant difference compared to normal at p<0.05. BVME: methanol extract of B. vulgaris, TPME: methanol extract of T. polium, OSME: methanol extract of Orthosiphon stamineus.

Figure 6

Effect of BVAE, TPAE, and OSAE on activated partial thromboplastin time in seconds of human plasma. TPAE and BVAE showed prolonged APTT in concentration-dependent manner, at almost one-third to heparin group. Bars with asterisk showed significant difference compared to normal group at p<0.05. BVAE: aqueous extract of B. vulgaris, TPAE: aqueous extract of T. polium, OSAE: aqueous extract of Orthosiphon stamineus.