Chrysophanol-8-O-glucoside,an anthraquinone derivative in rhubarb,has antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities

Rhubarb is a widely used traditional medicine and has been reported to elicit a number of biological effects including anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects. in the present study,we investigated the effects of anthraquinone derivatives isolated from rhubarb on platelet activity. of four anthraquinone derivatives isolated from rhubarb examined,chrysophanol-8-o- glucoside (cp- 8-o-glc) was found to have the most potent inhibitory effect on collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. cp-8-o-glc-treated mice showed significantly prolonged bleeding times. furthermore,cp-8-o-glc was found to have a significant inhibitory effect on rat platelet aggregation ex vivo and on thromboxane a 2 formation in vitro. in coagulation tests,cp-8-o-glc did not alter prothrombin time,and it prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time. however,cp- 8-o-glc only inhibited platelet phosphatidylserine exposure,but not exert direct inhibition on intrinsic factors. this study demonstrates the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of cp-8-o-glc and suggests that this compound might be of therapeutic benefit for the prevention of plateletrelated cardiovascular diseases. © the japanese pharmacological society.