Inhibiting and disaggregating effect of gel-filtered Galega officinalis L. herbal extract on platelet aggregation

The in vitro inhibiting and disaggregating effect on platelet aggregation of a gel-fractionated herbal extract from Galega officinalis L. is examined. The obtained Sephadex G-25 filtered fraction was 35-36 times more active than the crude extract. The threshold concentration at which this fraction inhibits platelet aggregation (5-10% inhibition) by 50 microM adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) is 4.5-5 microg per 1 ml platelet-rich plasma (PRP). At a concentration of 35 microg/ml PRP the fraction inhibits 50% of aggregation by ADP and at a concentration of 125 microg/ml PRP fully inhibits the aggregation of PRP by ADP. At a concentration of 40 microg/ml PRP the fraction inhibits initiation of platelet aggregation by 0.18 mg/ml collagen and at 50 microg/ml PRP inhibits the initiation of aggregation by 0.7 units/ml thrombin. The G-25 filtered fraction shows a strong disaggregating effect on aggregated PRP. At a concentration of 65-75 microg/ml PRP, the fraction is able to disaggregate the 50-53% of aggregated platelet-rich plasma by 50 microM ADP, and 25% of aggregated PRP by 0.18 mg/ml collagen.