Platelets are an essential part of your blood that protect your blood vessels helping to prevent blood loss.
However, a consequence of high cholesterol in your blood vessels can lead to the buildup of platelets and block and disrupt blood flow.
This process is known as atherosclerosis, which if left unchecked can lead to a heart attack (i.e. myocardial infarction), or stroke.
Ideally, we can have healthy levels of cholesterol that will not accumulate in our blood vessels as well as have AND have platelets that are not too ‘sticky’. 
A very common approach to reducing the stickiness of platelets is to take a baby aspirin (i.e. 81 mg) every day.
New research published in Phytomedicine is suggesting that isoflavonoids may have a mechanism that can reduce the stickiness of platelets.
Isoflavonoids occur in a variety of plants including the mung bean (Vigna radiate), red clover (Trifolium pretense), and soybeans (Glycine max).
How do platelets bind each other?
Platelets release a chemical called thromboxane A2 (TXA2).
Arachidonic acid is released and converted by an enzyme called Cyclooxygenase to thromboxane A2. When thromboxane A2 is made is will cause platelets to bind and constrict blood vessels (i.e. make them smaller).
How does Aspirin work?
Aspirin or the chemical name is acetylsalicylic acid inhibits cyclooxygenase I, the enzyme responsible for making thromboxane A2.
Antiplatelet properties of aspirin go back to the 1950’s making it an important strategy for preventing a second blood clot (i.e. thrombus) from forming after a stroke or coronary heart disease.
Here are some natural ways to reduce cholesterol with berberine, bergamot or other natural products tested in clinical trials.
The purpose of this study published in Phytomedicine was to test different isoflavones (i.e. a type of flavonoid) for their antiplatelet activities. In other words, the scientists goal was to determine if they could make platelets less sticky.
Here are the study details:
– A total of 16 isoflavones were tested including biochanin A, daidzein, ononin, genistein and more.
– Blood samples were colleted from 25 non smoking volunteers for the experiments.
– Antiplatelet activity was tested using experiments for testing inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1) enzyme activity, inhibition of synthesis of thromboxane A2.
– All compounds were tested on the blood of two different donors.
Here are some natural ways to reduce cholesterol with berberine, bergamot or other natural products tested in clinical trials.
– Asprin (acetylsalicylic acid) was used as a control antiplatelet drug with all isoflavonoids being compared to it.
Here are the results of isoflavones on platelet activity
– Our results and those of others were confirmed in the present study and extended by the finding that genistein was a similarly potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation as asprin in whole human blood.
– The most novel finding was that tectorigenin differing from genistein by only one methoxy group in position C-6, was a stronger inhibitor than asprin
– Daidzein was clearly weaker than other isoflavones
– Antiplatelet effect of active isoflavonoids (exception of daidzein and genistein) was based mainly on antagonism at thromboxane receptors.
Here is what the authors had to say about isoflavones and platelets
The effect of other active isoflavonoids appears to be based mainly on antagonism at thromboxane receptors. Tectorigenin was clearly the strongest antiplatelet isoflavonoid tested. Its potency on whole blood was higher than that of clinically used ASA.
Take away message
Asian countries have the highest intake of soy, which contains isoflavonoids, that has led some scientists to suggest this as an explanation for lowering cardiovascular disease. This study did not reveal if isoflavonoids are responsible for reduced cardiovascular disease in Asian countries, however, this research did identify new isoflavones that have antiplatelet activity.
Here are some natural ways to reduce cholesterol with berberine, bergamot or other natural products tested in clinical trials.
Another important observation is that the mechanism of the isoflavonoids was different from aspirin. Asprin works by inhibiting Cyclooxygenase I and this inhibition is non-reversible. This means that the antiplatelet effect can last for days and weeks even after someone stops taking aspirin.
The isoflavones appears to work differently by blocking the thromboxane receptor. This mechanism is very different from aspirin, which in theory could make it easier to turn on or off the antiplatelet activity compared to aspirin.
Tectorigenin is a more potent antiplatelet compound than aspirin and would appear to be an interesting isoflavone to study further.
It appears that future research with isoflavones may give alternative options to over the counter aspirin, but for now it is not ready as an alternative option to aspirin due to a lack of clinical research.
A great way to increase isoflavones is through your diet or low dose supplementation.
Reference:
The isoflavonoid tectorigenin has better antiplatelet potential than acetylsalicylic acid. Phytomedicine
Volume 35, 15 November 2017, Pages 11-17
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Inflammation, Medical Foods, Plant Medicine