Antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities of Astragalus sarcocolla Dymock

Background and Aim of the Study: Antiplatelet drugs available on the market have multiple side effects and pose drug interactions, which actuated the researchers to consider better alternatives by using plant extracts. It is well known that medicinal plants possessing anti-inflammatory action usually have antiplatelet aggregation and anticoagulation potential. Therefore, it was hypothesized that resins of Astragalus sarcocolla Dymock possessing anti-inflammatory properties would also manifest antiplatelet aggregation and anticoagulant properties. The objective of the present study was to assess the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of four different concentrations of ethanolic extracts (100, 80, 60, and 40%) of A. sarcocolla Dymock. Materials and Methods: Four different doses of A. sarcocolla Dymock extract (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 μg) were prepared for assays. In vitro antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects using human blood were studied in 42 healthy males aged between 25 and 35 years. Aspirin (0.5 μg) was used as the positive control for the antiplatelet aggregation assay. Furthermore, molecular docking was done to check the interaction between plant constituents and P2Y₁, P2Y₁₂, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV in ethanolic extract. Results: An HPLC analysis of the ethanolic extract of A. sarcocolla Dymock revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid. All the extracts of A. sarcocolla Dymock significantly inhibited aggregation of platelets against all three agonists' epinephrine (EPI), adenosine 5' diphosphate (ADP), and collagen (COL) in a concentration-dependent manner. All the extracts significantly affected prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking showed strong interactions of chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid with P2Y₁, P2Y₁₂, and PI3K. Conclusion: The data of the present study revealed the inhibition of platelet aggregation and anticoagulation potential of active compounds of Astragalus sarcocolla Dymock, together with their significant interaction profile with the selected therapeutic targets.