Anti-Thrombotic Effects of Artesunate through Regulation of cAMP and PI3K/MAPK Pathway on Human Platelets.

Normal activation of platelets and their aggregation are crucial for proper hemostasis. It appears that excessive or abnormal aggregation of platelets may bring about cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. For this reason, finding a substance that can regulate platelet aggregation or suppress aggregation will aid in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artesunate is a compound extracted from the plant roots of Artemisia or Scopolia, and its effects have shown to be promising in areas of anticancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the role and mechanisms by which artesunate affects the aggregation of platelets and the formation of a thrombus are currently not understood. This study examines the ways artesunate affects the aggregation of platelets and the formation of a thrombus on platelets induced by U46619. As a result, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production were increased significantly by artesunate relative to the doses, as well as phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), substrates to cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP-dependent kinase, in a significant manner. The Ca2+, normally mobilized from the dense tubular system, was inhibited due to IP3R phosphorylation from artesunate, and phosphorylated VASP aided in inhibiting platelet activity via αIIb/ß3 platelet membrane inactivation and inhibiting fibrinogen binding. In addition, MAPK and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation was inhibited via artesunate in a significant manner, causing the production of TXA2 and intracellular granular secretion (serotonin and ATP release) to be reduced. Therefore, we suggest that artesunate has value as a substance that inhibits platelet aggregation and thrombus formation through an antiplatelet mechanism.

Sonochemical reaction of fullerene[C60] with several 2'-azidoethyl per-O-acetyl glycosides.

Cycloadditive reaction of fullerene[C60] with various 2'-azidoethyl per-O-acetyl glycopyranoside of D-mannose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-xylose and D-maltose, respectively gave the glycosyl fullerene[C60] derivatives 2a-2e such as alpha-D-mannosyl fullerene[C60] under ultrasonication. Based on analyses using 1H- and 13C-NMR, UV-vis, FT-IR, and FAB-MS spectroscopies of the glycosyl fullerene[C60] derivatives, the products were composed of a mixture of [5,6]- and [6,6]-junction isomers which were predominantly the closed [5,6]-junction isomer.

Synthesis of 2'-azidoethyl trisaccharide, alpha-D-Gal-(1-->2)-6d-alpha-D-altro-Hepp-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcNAc, an O-antigenic repeating unit of C. jejuni O:23 and O:36.

A trisaccharide, the O-antigenic repeating unit of C. jejuni serotype O:23 and O:36, was synthesized as a 2'-azidoethyl glycoside by block addition of perbenzylated thiogalactoside donors to alpha-altroHepp-(1-->3)-GlcNPhth disaccharide acceptor in presence of IDCP promoter. The alpha-linked altroheptopyranoside moiety in the glycosyl acceptor was effectively prepared by Swern oxidation of alpha-mannohepp-(1-->3)-GlcNPhth disaccharide followed by mild reduction with NaCNBH3.