Eugenol and n-3 Rich Garden Cress Seed Oil as Modulators of Platelet Aggregation and Eicosanoids in Wistar Albino Rats

ABSTRACT

Eugenol, the active principle of clove oil is a potent antioxidant and a well known anti-inflammatory agent. In an earlier study, we have reported the in vitro inhibition of human platelet aggregation and LTC4 formation in rat PMNL cells. In the present study, an attempt has been made to monitor the in vivo and in vitro modulation of platelet aggregation and eicosanoids (TXB2, LTC4) by eugenol and a-linolenic acid (ALNA) rich garden cress seed oil in adult Wistar rats. Feeding of Garden cress oil (GCO) supplemented diet to rats for 8 weeks moderately inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and arachidonic acid (AA) at 14 and 7% respectively and also TXB2 levels at 10 and 32% in lung and spleen tissues. Oral feeding of eugenol at 40 mg/kg body weight for one week to GCO fed rats showed 20-30% inhibition of ADP and AA induced platelet aggregation and also TXB2 levels by ~ 50% in spleen. In an in vitro study, eugenol at 15.0 and 45.0 µM produced 15 and 78% inhibition of LTC4 levels, 27 and 80% inhibition of TXB2 in lungs and also 20 and 72% inhibition of LTC4 levels in the washed platelets respectively. Eugenol and GCO showed synergistic effect against platelet aggregation and TXB2 levels in spleen and lung tissues. Conclusively, data obtained from the present study provide new insights into modulatory effect of eugenol and a-linolenic acid on platelet aggregation and eicosanoids.