Antiaggregant effects on human platelets of culinary herbs

The inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 20 herb species on human platelet aggregation were investigated. Allspice, basil, marjoram, tarragon and thyme strongly inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Basil, marjoram and tarragon strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP. An active compound, arbutin, was isolated from sweet marjoram as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation induced by collagen; ADP, arachidonic acid (AA) and thrombin. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.