The polyphenol-rich extract from grape seeds inhibits platelet signaling pathways triggered by both proteolytic and non-proteolytic agonists.

Mechanisms involved in the reduction of blood platelet functions by various plant extract, including the grape seeds extract (rich in phenolic compounds, a mixture of about 95% oligomeric phenols; GSE) are still unclear. In the literature there are few papers describing studies on the effects of GSE on selected element of hemostasis. The aim of our study was to establish and compare the influence of GSE (at final dose of 0.625-50 µg/ml) and resveratrol (3,4',5 - trihydroxystilben), a phenolic compound synthesized in grapes and vegetables and presents in wine, which has been supposed to be beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular events, on different steps of platelet activation. We measured the effects of GSE and resveratrol on platelet aggregation, the surface expression of P-selectin, platelet microparticle formation (PMP), and superoxide anion radicals ([Formula: see text]) production in blood platelets stimulated by TRAP and thrombin. P-selectin expression and PMP formation were measured by a flow cytometer. In gel-filtered platelets activated by thrombin or TRAP and treated with different concentrations of GSE (1.25-50 µg/ml) a significant decrease of P-selectin expression, PMP formation and platelet aggregation was observed. GSE caused also a dose-dependent reduction of [Formula: see text] produced in platelets activated by TRAP or thrombin. Our present results indicate that GSE inhibits platelet signaling pathways trigged by both proteolytic (thrombin) and non-proteolytic agonist (TRAP). In the comparative studies, GSE was found to be more effective antiplatelet factor, than the solution of pure resveratrol. Thus, the polyphenol-rich extract from grape seeds can be useful as the protecting factor against cardiovascular diseases.