ANTICOAGULANT AND ANTIPLATELET ACTIVITIES OF JACKFRUIT (ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS) SEED EXTRACT

  Objective: The current study focuses on the anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities of aqueous seed extract of Jackfruit (AqSEJ).Methods: Anticoagulant effect of AqSEJ was tested using plasma recalcification time, mouse tail bleeding time, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT). Antiplatelet activity was examined by platelet aggregation studies using agonists such as ADP, Collagen and Epinephrine.Results: The AqSEJ enhanced the clotting time of citrated human plasma from control 200±10 s to 740±14 s. The anticoagulant activity of AqSEJ was further strengthened by in-vivo mouse tail bleeding assay. The i. v. injection of AqSEJ significantly prolonged the bleeding time in a dose dependent manner. The recorded bleeding time was>10 min (P<0.01) at the concentration of 30 μg against the PBS treated control of 1.48±0.10 min with the IC50 values 37.5 μg/ml and 47.5 μg/ml respectively. Interestingly, AqSEJ specifically prolonged the clot formation process of only APTT but not PT, revealing the anticoagulation triggered by the extract could be due to its interference in an intrinsic pathway of the blood coagulation cascade. Furthermore, AqSEJ inhibited the agonists such as ADP, epinephrine and collagen induced platelet aggregation of about 66.7%, 39.2% and 37.0% respectively at the concentration of 200 μg.Conclusion: AqSEJ showed anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities. Hence, it may serve as a better alternative for thrombotic disorders.Â

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heteophyllus) seed extract exhibits fibrino(geno)lytic activity

Objective: The current study assesses the fibrinogen and fibrin clot hydrolyzing activities of aqueous seed extract of Jackfruit (AqSEJ). Methods: The protein banding pattern of AqSEJ (100 μg) was analyzed on SDS-PAGE. The proteolytic activity of AqSEJ was confirmed by spectrophotometer and zymography experiments. Fibrinogen, fibrin and plasma protein hydrolyzing activities of AqSEJ were analyzed on SDS-PAGE under reduced conditions. Plasminogen activation and indirect hemolytic activities was analyzed using spectrophotometer. The non-toxic property of AqSEJ was tested by edema, hemorrhage in experimental mice. Results: AqSEJ exhibited proteolytic activity and the specific activity was found to be 1.04 units/mg/min. Furthermore, AqSEJ non-specifically hydrolyzed Aα, followed by Bβ and γ chains of human fibrinogen and specifically hydrolyzed α polymer and α chain of partially cross linked human fibrin clot without affecting β chain and γ-γ dimer even up to the tested dose of 30 µg for the incubation period of 8 hours. Importantly, AqSEJ did not hydrolyze other plasma proteins and devoid of plasminogen activation property. The proteolytic activity of AqSEJ was completely neutralized by PMSF and IAA, while EDTA, EGTA, 1,10-Phenanthroline did not, suggesting the presence of serine and cysteine family proteases. Moreover, AqSEJ did not cause edema and hemorrhage in experimental mice up to the tested dose of 200 µg and nontoxic to RBC cells. Conclusion: AqSEJ hydrolyzes fibrinogen and fibrin clot and non-toxic in nature. Hence, this work showcases the potential applications of Jack fruit seed proteases in the treatment of thrombotic disorder