Mapuche Herbal Medicine Inhibits Blood Platelet Aggregation

Abstract

12 plant species traditionally used by the Mapuche people in Chile to treat wounds and inflammations have been evaluated for their direct blood platelet inhibition. Seven of the 12 tested plant species showed platelet inhibitory effect in sheep blood, and four of these were also able to inhibit the ADP- (5.0 μM) and collagen- (2.0 μg/mL) induced aggregations in human blood. These four species in respective extracts (in brackets) wereBlechnum chilense(MeOH),Luma apiculata(H2O),Amomyrtus luma(DCM : MeOH 1 : 1) andCestrum parqui(DCM : MeOH 1 : 1). The platelet aggregating inhibitory effects ofA. luma(DCM : MeOH 1 : 1), andL. apiculata(H2O) were substantial and confirmed by inhibition of platelet surface activation markers.