In Vitro Effect of Aspalatone on Platelet Aggregation and Thromboxane Production in Human Platelet Rich Plasma

In vitro inhibitory effect of aspalatone ((3-(2-methyl-4-pyronyl)]-2-acetyloxybenzoate) on collagen-, ADP-, and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in human platelet rich plasma (PRP) was compared with the effects of reference drugs (acetylsalicylic acid, cilostazol and ticlopidine). Aspalatone inhibited time and dose dependently human platelet aggregation induced by collagen; relative potency was in the order of cilostazol>acetylsalicylic acid>aspalatone>ticlopidine. Aspalatone, like acetylsalicylic acid, potently inhibited only the secondary phase of ADP-and epinephrine-induced aggregation. Thromboxane $B^2$ production evoked by collagen in human PRP was inhibited significantly and concentration-dependently by aspalatone and acetylsalicylic acid. These results were in agreement with the earlier studies in which the antiplatelet action of aspalatone was indicated to be due to the inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase activity (Han et al., Arzneim. Forsch./Drug Res. 44(II), 1122, 1994; Suh and Han, Yakhak Hoeji 39, 565, 1995). In addition, the inhibitory activity of aspalatone on the platelet aggregation appears to be inversely related to the rate of nonspecific deacetylation of the drug in plasma.