Evaluation of antitrombotic effects of some flavonoids

ABSTRACT Thrombus formation is one of the primary causes of various cardiovascular diseases. Different medicinal plants are used to treatment of cardiovascular diseases and one of them is Crataegus species. It is informed that apigenin, vitexin, quercetin and hyperoside flavonoids which found within medicinal plants (etc. Crataegus) and exert different pharmacological actions such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activities. Inhibition and treatment of thrombosis is of great importance in the prevention of this diseases. In this research, it is aimed to investigate possible effect of antithrombotic effects of selected flavonoids using a carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis model in mice. Apigenin, vitexin, quercetin and hyperoside injected to the mice (30-35g) intraperitoneally at the dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Flavonoids are dissolved in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and it is used for negative control. 100 IU Heparin is used for positive control. Forty μl (1%) carrageenan (type I) injected into the mouse hind paw 45 min after drug administration. The wine-colored region at the mouse tail was then measured at 24, 48 and 72th hours. The results showed that all tested flavonoids have potential antithrombotic effect. At the dose of 200 mg/kg of quercetin and hyperoside decreased the length of tail thrombosis significantly (P<0.001) at three day. Apigenin and vitexin were more effective at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg (P<0.001) than at the dose of 200 mg/kg (P<0.05). Apigenin and vitexin showed antithrombotic effects at all tested doses, while quercetin and hyperoside were effective only at the highest doses. According to these results, it can be suggested that tested flavonoids may be evaluated new antithrombotic agents or could be used as complementary therapy with other anticoagulant drugs in the future. Keywords: Apigenin, vitexin, quercetin, hyperoside, antithrombotic effect