OBJECTIVE: To examine the antiplatelet and antithrombotic activity of Rumex acetosella extract. METHODS: Standard light aggregometry was used for platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium mobilization assessed using Fura-2/AM, granule secretion (ATP release) by luminometer, and fibrinogen binding to integrin α_IIbβ₃ detected using flow cytometry. Western blotting is carried out to determine the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. RESULTS: Rumex acetosella displayed the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, calcium mobilization, granule secretion, and fibrinogen binding to integrin α_IIbβ₃. Rumex acetosella has also down-regulated MAPK and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION Rumex acetosella extract exhibits antiplatelet activity via modulating GPVI signaling, and it may protect against the development of platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.
Blood Platelets/metabolism* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Fibrinogen/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex/pharmacology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rumex/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the molluscicidal activities of three Chinese plants N. indicum Mill, R stenoptera DC, and R. japonicum Houtt, and to clarify the molluscicidal mechanism.

METHODSN-butanol extracts and water extracts of the three plants were obtained. The reactions of EST isozyme, glycogen and total protein of snails to the plant extracts were studied.

RESULTSEST electrophoresis showed that EST was an important antidotal enzyme system and reacted strongly to environment. EST changed greatly during the whole exposure period so that it could be viewed as a pathological index of toxicity. Extracts decreased the glycogen content of the snails' soft tissues greatly, and also the protein content.

CONCLUSIONAll extracts show strong molluscicidal activity. The LD50 value of the water extract of N. indicum Mill is as low as 13.2 mg/L. EST can be viewed as a pathological index of toxicity. The energy metabolism abnormity is the key reason for the molluscicidal activities. The biochemical mechanism needs further research.

Animals ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Esterases ; metabolism ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Juglandaceae ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Molluscacides ; toxicity ; Nerium ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rumex ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Snails ; drug effects