Antiplatelet fraction from Ulmi cortex and its active components

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify active fraction and components from antiplatelet Ulmi cortex extract. Methods : The 70% ethanol extract of Ulmi cortex was subjected to column chromatography over D101 resin and eluted with an 20% (W1), 30% (W2), 40% (W3), 50%(W4), 70% (W5), and 100% ethanol (W6) to yield 6 fractions. W6 was further fractioned and its active components were purified using semi-preparative HPLC. The isolated compounds were identified by MS and NMR, and their contents were simultaneously analyzed using HPLC/UV. Antiplatelet aggregation activities of the fractions and the compounds were evaluated using rat platelet-rich plasma in presence of collagen (), arachidonic acid (0.05 U/ml), or thrombin (). Results : Among six fractions, W3 prominently inhibited platelet aggregation. At the concentration of , W3 strongly inhibited arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced platelet aggregations by 78.2% and 65.9%, respectivley, and weakly inhibited thrombin-inducded platelet aggregation by 32.6%. Catechin, epicatehin, and catechin-7-O--D-glucopyranoside were isolated from W3 and their contents were revealed to be 15.1%, 0.87%, and 0.32%. Catechin and epicatechin at the concentrations of strongly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation by 79.9% and 86.6%, respectively, but weakly inhibited arachidonic acid- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations. Conclusions : A main active principle of anitplatelet Ulmi Cortex extract is W3 fraction, of which main active component is catechin considering its antiplatelet activity and content.