The effect of dietary bacillus natto productive protein on in vivo endogenous thrombolysis

The influence of dietary bacillus natto productive protein (BNPP) on endogenous thrombolysis was investigated in the rat. Animals were given a standard feed for 14 weeks, to which 0.2 or 1% BNPP was added. Thrombolysis was evaluated using an He-Ne laser-induced thrombosis model in mesenteric microvessels. Changes in thrombus volume, reflecting thrombolysis, decreased to 82% of the initial value in the control group. In contrast, the thrombus volume decreased to 67% in the animals fed 0.2% BNPP, and decreased to 51% in the group given 1% BNPP. The extent of thrombolysis in the 1% BNPP group was equivalent to that seen in animals treated with a bolus intravenous infusion of 0.2 mg/kg tissue plasminogen activator. The results demonstrated that the dietary administration of BNPP enhanced endogenous thrombolysis in a dose-dependent manner. Argatroban (2 mg/kg/h) enhanced endogenous fibrinolysis only in control animals, but not in the BNPP groups. The results support the suggestion that dietary supplementation with BNPP may provide a simple means to promote fibrinolysis not only in the treatment of thromboembolism but also in the prevention of venous occlusion.