All Volumes (2001-2008)

Volume

Volume II, 2002

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2002

Abstract

Effects of the leaf extract Ginkgo biloba, ginkgolides A and B, and the amino acid taurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid) on platelet aggregation was studied. All potential anitcoagulants were incubated in day one platelet-rich plasma and subjected to various agonist-induced clotting and tests and other measures of platelet viability. G. biloba extract and its respective ginkgolides had no effect on platelet aggregation in response to ADP and thrombin, while taurine exhibited prolongation of thrombin time (TT) and reduced thrombin-induced aggregation by 10%. Taurine prolonged time of initial clot formation on thrombolestographic tests, but overall clot viability remained unaffected. These data suggest that G. biloba and its active ginkgolides do not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by ADP and thrombin, while taurine mildly inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These findings correlate with taurine's osmoregulatory and cryoprotective properties and indicate a role as a hemostasis stabilizer rather than an anticoagulant. Possible mechanism of taurine action is suggested.

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

Share

COinS