Modified smear method for screening potential inhibitors of platelet aggregation from plant sources

The smear method developed by Velaskar and Chitre was modified to allow the massive screening of plant extracts and/or fractions for platelet antiaggregating activity. Aspirin and papaverine, known inhibitors of platelet aggregation, were tested by the modified method and showed comparable results with previously reported data. Fifty-four fractions prepared from eighteen plant species were screened for their inhibitory effects on adenosine 5'-diphosphate, arachidonic acid, or collagen-induced rat platelet aggregation. The results suggest that plants could be a potential source of inhibitors of platelet aggregation.