Rutin present in Alibertia edulis extract acts on human platelet aggregation through inhibition of cyclooxygenase/thromboxane.

Alibertia edulis leaf extract is commonly used in folk medicine, with rutin caffeic and vanillic acids being its major compounds. The Alibertia edulis leaf extract was investigated for its pharmacological effects via platelet aggregation, calcium mobilization, cyclic nucleotides levels, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein Ser157 and Ser239 and protein kinase Cß2 phosphorylation, thromboxane B2, cyclooxygenases 1 and 2, docking and molecular dynamics. Alibertia edulis leaf extract significantly inhibited (100-1000 µg mL-1) platelet aggregation induced by different agonists. Arachidonic acid increased levels of calcium and thromboxane B2, phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein Ser157 and Ser239, and protein kinase Cß, which were significantly reduced by Alibertia edulis leaf extract, rutin, and caffeic acid as well mixtures of rutin/caffeic acid. Cyclooxygenase 1 activity was inhibited for Alibertia edulis leaf extract, rutin and caffeic acid. These inhibitions were firsrtly explored by specific stabilization of rutin and caffeic acid compared to diclofenac at the catalytic site from docking score and free-energy dissociation profiles. Then, simulations detailed the rutin interactions close to the heme group and Tyr385, responsible for catalyzing the conversion of arachidonic acid to its products. Our results reveal the antiplatelet aggregation properties of Alibertia edulis leaf extract, rutin and caffeic acid providing pharmacological information about its origin from cyclooxygenase 1 inhibition and its downstream pathway.

Inhibition of invasion-associated thromboxane synthase sensitizes experimental gliomas to gamma-radiation.

The invasion- and apoptosis-associated thromboxane synthase gene encoding an enzyme of the arachidonic acid pathway has been implicated in glioma progression. Furegrelate, a specific inhibitor of thromboxane synthase, blocks cell motility, induces apoptosis and increases sensitivity to drug induced apoptosis in human glioma cells in vitro. The impact of furegrelate on the sensitivity of human glioma cells to gamma-irradiation was analyzed using colony formation assay in vitro and an orthotopic mouse model in vivo. Pre-treatment of glioma cells with furegrelate increases radiation sensitivity of cultured glioma cells. Treatment of experimental gliomas with suboptimal doses of radiation and furegrelate results in a significant decrease in tumor volumes compared to untreated controls. Thus, the specific thromboxane synthase inhibitor furegrelate increases death response induced by gamma-radiation in glioma cells in vitro and sensitizes experimental gliomas to radiation treatment in vivo.