Flavones in citrus exhibit antiadhesive action on platelets

Two methoxylated flavones isolated from citrus, sinensetin (5 methoxyls) and heptamethoxy flavone (7 methoxyls), were compared in vitro with nobiletin for antiadhesive activity on rat platelets. Nobiletin (a hexamethoxyflavone also isolated from citrus) has been previously shown by several workers to have antiadhesive and antithrombogenic activity. The penta- and heptamethoxylated flavones exhibited anti-adhesive activity similar to that of nobiletin. However, activity did not parallel number of methoxyl groups which appear to indicate some degree of specificity between flavone structure and antiadhesive activity on platelets.